IPS releases statement following court hearing of 2 employees
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A new court date has been set for two IPS workers accused of not reporting an inappropriate relationship between a counselor and a student fast enough.
Lela “Tina” Hester and Shalon Dabney are suspended from the school district with pay. They were in court Tuesday morning.
Officials say they failed to report an alleged sexual relationship between a teenage student and then school counselor Shana Taylor.
IPS released the following statement after the court hearing.
“Indianapolis Public Schools’ highest priority is the safety and security of our students. The matter in question continues to work its way though the legal process, and we are working with authorities. We anticipate that our internal efforts around this matter will soon be able to recommence, and we will take all appropriate actions to maintain the high level of trust we’ve earned with parents and students. We will comment appropriately when there are pertinent changes or when this situation is resolved.”
Prosecutors say Hester, the Human Resources Director, told the Assistant Principal at an IPS school not to call police.
The two women face charges of failure to report a criminal misdemeanor. The women will be back in court in August.
