Allentown Teacher Convicted After Encouraging A Student Walkout

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A former charter school teacher has been convicted of three counts of corruption of minors after encouraging hundreds of students to walk out of school in Allentown last year.

A Lehigh County district judge on Monday assessed 29-year-old Michael Frassetto a $100 fine for each count in September's walkout.

Frassetto was charged with hundreds of counts, but was convicted only of those related to standing outside William Allen High School in Allentown with a bullhorn urging students to leave class and for passing out information at a football game about the protest.

The school district said encouraging truancy was unlawful. Frassetto said he was merely helping students speak up for themselves. He was removed as a teacher at the Medical Academy Charter School in Catasauqua after he was cited.