Missouri: Teacher abuse investigation spurs call for change

[Beerboy]

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. — School districts would be prohibited from signing confidentiality agreements with teachers who commit sexual misconduct, and parents could more easily learn about such cases under changes to Missouri law a state legislator plans to pursue in 2008.

The proposed changes are in response to a recent Associated Press investigation into teacher sex abuse nationwide. In Missouri, 87 licensed teachers lost their credentials from 2001 through 2005 because of sexual misconduct, the seven-month AP investigation found.

That group includes former teacher Greg Crowley, who worked in eight school districts over 15 years, including three school systems after he quietly resigned from the Kingston district in 2000 following sexual harassment and misconduct complaints by at least a dozen students.

Such cases point out the shortcomings of the state’s current licensing rules, said state Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield. The chairwoman of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee said she plans to file legislation and hold public hearings on teacher sexual misconduct after the Legislature reconvenes in January.

We've had similar problems up here in MN where perverts preying on kids are fired from one district, but their record is hidden from their next intended school of prey.