Laurel Highlands School District brings in outside counsel amid ongoing misconduct investigations
The Laurel Highlands School District board is bringing in outside counsel to review ongoing investigations after two teachers were accused of having inappropriate relationships with students.
The school board held a meeting on Wednesday night and announced that it has retained Pittsburgh-based MBM Law to review the district's practices and procedures. The decision to hire independent, outside counsel came after the two district employees were arrested last month.
Last week, JROTC instructor Daniel Cervone, 50, was arrested and accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old student. Investigators said the alleged abuse began when the girl was 15 and continued during her sophomore year, both inside Cervone's classroom office and on school property.
Cervone's arrest came just one week after civics teacher Martin Gatti, 50, was charged with similar offenses and was later fired. Police said that Gatti asked a student to come to his classroom and asked her to kiss him.
The Laurel Highlands school board said it's committed to making changes to protect students, while parents at Wednesday's meeting expressed dissatisfaction.
"The board stands with the community," said board president Marcus DiNunno. "As parents, friends, and neighbors, we share the outrage over the recent incidents of sexual misconduct in our district."
"You failed everybody here," said Seth Williams. "We can either vote you out like Rich Bower, or you can do the right thing and step down."
Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele was at Wednesday's meeting and called the decision to bring in outside counsel for review "a good first step."
"I think a lot of it comes down to compliance with the laws we have, as well as determining whether there's been a culture in this school to encourage people either to not report or to go to other sources than the ones that are supposed to be reported to," Aubele said.
He told KDKA on Thursday that his office has received several reports from students about teachers in the district.
"We've received telephone calls. I've gotten numerous emails. I've gotten emails and phone calls today," he said.
Last weekend, the DA issued a stark warning after multiple high school parents claimed their students had been told not to speak in school about the allegations.
The district, which said it is fully cooperating with investigators, is expected to take further action at its next meeting on April 15 and vote to fire Cervone, who has been on leave since his arrest.
