45 46 47 48 Dallas, TX - May 26, 2002

Schools lack specific sex policy, notes the Dallas Morning News May 26, 2002
Surveying 12 districts, the Dallas Morning News found the districts had policings regarding the suspension or firing of a teacher, but not policies on notification of parents.

Texas law requires school districts to notify parents when their children's teachers aren't state-certified in a subject they're teaching; state law does not require a district to notify parents if their child's teacher is accused of a sex crime.

Cases cited:

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• Leonard D. Treadwell, 28, sentenced to a year in jail and 10 years probation for assaulting three girls.
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• Johnny Ray Ellis, now 49, was arrested on Feb. 8, 2001, and charged with indecency with a 12-year-old male student.
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• Martin Rodriquez, 33, sentenced in April to 30 years for two counts of aggravated assault on a 13-year-old girl.
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• Mark Curry, a teacher in South Dallas, was arrested and charged with having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

In the cases of Treadwell and Ellis, parents were notified when the teacher was arrested. Parents were never notified at any time for Martin Rodriquez, a Dallas teacher. Union officials are uncertain whether parents should be notified or not. ""You have to find that line to protect kids and not get into a witch hunt mode against teachers."
The Dallas Morning News is a Belo newspaper. They also own the Riverside, CA Press-Telegram