Newton Jewish day school places teacher on leave amid investigation into alleged inappropriate touching

"The Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton has placed a teacher on leave after a young child who tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection reported being touched inappropriately by the instructor, school officials said. The teacher was placed on leave Oct. 31, the same day the student's family shared additional information with the school, including a report of inappropriate touching, according to a statement the school released Wednesday."

"The student was diagnosed with an STI in early October, Head of School Rebecca Lurie and Board of Trustees' President Eytan Shamash told The Boston Globe. "This information was immediately reported to the police and child safety authorities, who opened investigations," they said in the email. "Given the child's age and the STI involved, abuse was determined to be very likely.""

"Rachel Stroup, an employment law attorney representing the teacher, said the teacher "vehemently denies the allegations." "We expect the evidence to show that our client did not engage in any misconduct with any child at the school," Stroup said. The school said it reported the matter to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, the Office of Early Education and Care, and the Newton Police Department."

Solomon Schechter Day School placed a teacher on administrative leave Oct. 31 after a lower school student reported inappropriate physical contact and tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection. The student's family provided additional information to the school the same day. School officials said the student described inappropriate contact occurring during previous years. School leaders reported the matter immediately to police and child safety authorities, which opened investigations, and concluded that abuse was very likely given the child's age and the STI involved. The teacher's attorney vehemently denies the allegations and said evidence will show no misconduct. Multiple state and local agencies, including the district attorney's office, are investigating and no criminal charges have been filed.

Read at Boston.com