From staff reports

Cherokee County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo has appointed five district staff members to a newly formed ad hoc committee aimed at ensuring district employees maintain responsible relationships with students.

“In order to ensure the safest and most secure environment possible for our students as it relates to interaction with CCSD employees, in light of recent incidents of alleged inappropriate conduct and to enable me to determine the need for any additional policy recommendations for the school board to consider in this regard, I am establishing an ad hoc responsible relationships committee,” Petruzielo wrote in a letter Thursday.

Within the last school year, two teachers at Creekview High School have been arrested and charged with separate instances of sexual assault, both involving allegedly having months-long relationships with a student.

Appointed to the committee are Trey Olsen, assistant superintendent of personnel management, who will serve as chair; Dr. Brian Hightower, assistant superintendent of school operations; Bobby Blount, assistant superintendent of accountability, technology and strategic planning; CCSD Police Chief Mark Kissel and Barbara Jacoby, director of public information, communications and partnerships.

Petruzielo said the committee will be charged with reviewing the district’s “Critical Issues” program and other practices relating to ensuring district employees maintain “responsible relationships” with students and other staff.

Petruzielo added he expects a status report from the committee during the school board’s work session March 21 and also expects the group to make final recommendations in time for discussion at the semi-annual Trends in Education work session April 18.