By CHRIS JACKETT
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – Parents of Allendale Elementary School students received an unusual letter sent home with their children Monday afternoon.
On Oct. 8, when fourth- and fifth-grade teachers throughout the building were attending a math institute professional development day, substitute teachers filled the classrooms.
Students reported Monday that one male substitute, hired through Caledonia-based Professional Education Services Group, acted inappropriately in the classroom.
The letter from Allendale Principal Robert Bateman stated, “Allegedly the guest teacher slammed the door hard enough to cause a picture to fall from the wall, yelled at the students to behave, carried a pen that looked like a knife, and was using a personal laptop in the classroom which allegedly contained material that was inappropriate for school.”
The inappropriate material comprised artistic photographs of legs and shirtless men, officials said. None of the photos showed genitalia or the backside, police said following their investigation.
In light of the incident, Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools alerted PESG and has barred the individual from working within the district in the future.
“This guest teacher will not be allowed to work for Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools again,” Bateman said.
(Contact Chris Jackett at [email protected])