crew chief I know why you are upset, the orginal post was about what the pto could do to stop this and the truth is they can not legally do anything, yes they can protest and all that but as sad as society is that criminals are still treated with rights. That is the way it is in society, do we agree with it no but when asked legally what they can do as a pto...nothing except voice concern.
The district knows what they can do, and even their hands are often tied by laws that give these people rights. As far as the mom we don't know enough to judge her and I think we can't judge her without all if the info. If you think I am sticking up for her, I am not...one of those people you describe was me.

amen to that.
we need tim to do his magic and close the thread, imo.

I hate to see people who are so normally positive getting so upset. We all agree, EVERYONE OF US that we would never do anything to put another child in danger. Not our own or the pain in the butt's that complains about everything we do.

Anyone the would harm a child in anyway isn't fit to breathe air as far as I'm concerned, but I would have to know the facts first-hand to pass that judgement. In this case, we just don't.

Let's all take a deep breath and do what we do best. Serve to the best of our ability to provide a positive, enjoyable atmosphere for the kids in our school and to share our learned insight with others, so they can do the same.

I hope everyone enjoys the sunshine and has a wonderful day.

Seriously?!?!?! Sympathize with the woman? Give the offender the benefit of the doubt? Worry about their rights? I can't believe I'm even reading these words.

Here's an idea....

Spend an hour talking with a woman who was sexually abused by her stepdad for fifteen years while her mother turned a blind eye. Her earliest memory is his face over hers.

Attend a self defense seminar with an instructor who was turned over to her relatives repeatedly over many years for "whatever they wanted" while the rest of the family sat around and watched. Ask her how it felt to have her legs and hands tied together while everyone laughed.

Talk to a thirteen year old girl forced to "entertain" her stepdads friends so he doesn't beat her mother again. And why the kids at school tease her when she cries "for no reason".

In just these three cases, the mothers aided the abusers to protect themselves. Are they victims themselves? Sure. But they weren't the only victims. So were the damaged children who depended on these women to protect them and were failed over and over again.

Not my child. Not ever. Yours?

That is the most curious thing abuot all of this, is that someone in such a 'spousal situation' (everyone knows RSO info is public) would even want to run, or hold, a quasi-public office, let alone one where childrens welfare is the main mission.

Even tho she has done nothing wrong (except maybe a poor choice of husband but then you cant hold that against someone) its appearances that count.

Imagine a teacher or principal or super or board member, with a RSO spouse......would they even get hired/elected?? It just calls up too many questions.......

Anyway, a tough spot for anyone (with or without kids) to be in, with a spouse with such a record. But hold 'public' office??? its a strange situation.

I second what VOR said. As a former victem of abuse myself, I'm very much in favor of protecting the kids. By the same token, my family has THREE different friends (over many years) who have been unfairly characterized as "sex offenders".

One was similar to the story she told. Teenage boy friend/girlfriend of similar ages, one over 18, one not. Parents didn't like the kid and pressed charges.

Another was a horrible divorce case where it was later proven that the mom convinced the daughter to lie against the stepdad.

The last was a he said/she said from 20 years ago during college years; bad advice from a lawer to plead it down to make it go away. The girl later told friends she was just out for money from his family. His is a really low category - I don't think he has to register, but the background check creates a flag that causes some problems.

Protecting the kids is a priority. But, even with my background, I'm slow to jump on the vigilante wagon.