Natomas Unified School District suspended a Heron School staff member December 22nd in connection with allegations that the employee used a phone to take inappropriate, clothed images of specific parts of students’ bodies during the school day. That same evening, the school district communicated to Heron families about the suspension and claims.
The Sacramento Police Department and NUSD continue to investigate the claims, which were brought forward by students on the day before the district’s current Winter Recess. Today, after the initial two weeks of investigation, Natomas Unified notified the employee that the school district would initiate termination proceedings.
In a follow-up communication to the Heron school community today, NUSD explained the chain of events as follows:
“The day before winter break, students brought video and photographic evidence that a Heron staff member was inappropriately recording students during class. As a result, Heron administration and district office leaders acted quickly, placing the employee on paid leave. Placing an employee on leave is standard practice on the infrequent occasion that further investigation is required.
“The district investigation is ongoing. So far, we have been provided evidence that shows the staff member was using a phone to capture images of students on campus. These photos focused on specific, inappropriate, clothed areas of female students’ bodies. As a result, we have taken further action to initiate termination proceedings. This kind of behavior is inappropriate and appropriate disciplinary action is being taken. We are informed the staff member’s phone is in the custody of the Sacramento Police Department.”
In its message today, NUSD also thanked students for bringing the information forward and said that further developments will be shared in the future. “Situations like this do not represent the overall exemplary behavior and actions taken by the vast majority of our staff every day,” NUSD said. “And we are sorry this is affecting our community.”
Because this matter is both an ongoing investigation and a personnel matter, NUSD cannot comment further. Anyone with relevant information or evidence should call the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 264-5471 or contact NUSD Constituent and Customer Services (CCS) by emailing [email protected] or by calling (916) 561-5253 when classes resume Monday (Jan. 9).
