Lockney High School (Alex Driggars/Floyd County Record)
LOCKNEY, TX – On Monday, an employee of Lockney Independent School District (LISD) was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of allegations of educator misconduct.
Two days later, LISD Superintendent Jim Baum released a statement to the media outlining the situation.
LOCKNEY ISD PRESS RELEASE
DATE: April 5, 2023
FROM: Jim Baum, Lockney ISD Superintendent
As the designated spokesperson and superintendent for the Lockney Independent School District, I am issuing the following statement:
During the last week of March 2023, the Lockney ISD administration, received multiple reports that a District employee may have engaged in educator misconduct relating to one or more District students. Upon receipt of these reports, the District immediately informed local law enforcement. Local law enforcement and the District simultaneously conducted investigations into the reports.
On April 3, 2023, the educator was placed on administrative leave pending the District’s further investigation into the allegations. It is the District’s understanding that law enforcement’s investigation into this matter is also continuing.
The school administration is grateful for the cooperation it received from local law enforcement, and it will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies relating to educator certification to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Student safety and proper professional relationships between staff and students are top priorities to Lockney ISD. Inappropriate relationships between District employees and students are never tolerated. The District strictly enforces its student anti-harassment policies. Employees receive regular training regarding proper professional relationships, communications, and boundaries with students.
The Lockney ISD administration encourages anyone with concerns of a suspected improper relationship between a staff member and a student to immediately contact the Superintendent’s office or the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department. State and federal law prohibit the District from disclosing personally identifiable student information, as well as confidential personnel information. Therefore, the District cannot comment further on this matter. Any further inquiries should be directed to the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department.
Please be assured that the District has taken steps to keep Lockney ISD students safe, and we are grateful for the prompt assistance of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department. Thank you for your continued support of the District and our students.
(special thanks to KCBD for contributing to this report)
