A Talawanda Middle School teacher was suspended with pay pending a police investigation into an allegation that the teacher touched a student under the age of 13 inappropriately, the school district announced on its website. 

Neither the student nor the faculty member have been named by the Talawanda school district or the Oxford Police Department. 

Oxford Police Lt. Lara Fening confirmed that police are investigating an allegation of gross sexual imposition reported to them by the school district. The incident is alleged to have occurred Dec. 1. The student told another teacher at the school, who reported it to the police the same day, according to Fening.

Holli Morrish, spokesperson for the school district, posted a statement on the district’s blog on Dec. 7 that said:

“It is the practice and policy of Talawanda School District to not make comments to the media or the public during an open investigation.  The district takes all allegations seriously. The safety and well-being of students remains the highest priority of the Talawanda School District.

“The district understands the curiosity and concern coming from community members, but we ask that the families directly involved receive privacy and that patience is given while the police conduct their investigation.”

Morrish did not respond to repeated calls from the Observer concerning why the district waited six days after the incident was reported to make the public announcement or whether the district has reached out to parents of other children who may have been involved in school and extracurricular activities with the accused employee.