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WEBVTT ROB: WE BEGIN AT WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL IN COUNCIL BLUFFS WITH A CASE OF INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING. ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT -- JULIE: A PARA-EDUCATOR RESIGNED AFTER TWO GIRLS REPORTED HIM. THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. ROB: PARENTS WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY ONLY FOUND OUT TONIGHT AFTER WE FOUND OUT. KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S TAYLOR BARTH IS LIVE WITH THE BIG STORY. TAYLOR? REPORTER: WE’RE NOT NAMING THE PARA-EDUCATOR BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BEEN ARRESTED OR CHARGED WITH ANYTHING. THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SENT A RECORDING TO WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS JUST BEFORE WE BROKE THIS STORY TONIGHT AT 6:00. >> IT MAY BE REPORTED ON THE NEWS TONIGHT THAT A WILSON PARA-EDUCATOR RESIGNED FOLLOWING REPORTS OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN A CLASSROOM. REPORTER: DISTRICT INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE REPORTS MENTIONED IN THIS MESSAGE VALID. A DISTRICT SPOKESPERSON SAYS TWO WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS NOTIFIED ADMINISTRATORS A MALE PARA-EDUCATOR INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHED THEM. THE DISTRICT SAYS IT HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO. >> IT WAS ON THE THIGHS AND ON THE CHEST OF A TEENAGE GIRL. REPORTER: THIS WOMAN, WHO DOESN’T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED, SAYS THE TOUCHING HAPPENED OVER CLOTHES. SHE’S FRIENDS WITH A STUDENT’S FAMILY. SHE SAYS THAT GIRL WAS ALSO VIOLATED. >> IT SCARES ME. REPORTER: THE DISTRICT SAYS ADMINISTRATORS MET WITH THE FAMILIES DIRECTLY INVOLVED, BUT THE DISTRICT DID NOT SEND A MESSAGE TO ALL PARENTS UNTIL TUESDAY NIGHT. >> WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT AN IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND IT REVEALED THAT THE BEHAVIOR WAS ISOLATED. REPORTER: PARENTS SAY EVERYONE SHOULD’VE KNOWN MUCH SOONER. >> IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO PEOPLE’S ATTENTION THAT THAT DID HAPPEN, THAT IT WAS INVESTIGATED, AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WAS FOUND. REPORTER: THE DISTRICT SAYS IT NOTIFIED COUNCIL BLUFFS POLICE. A SCHOOL SPOKESPERSON SAYS IT’S UP TO PARENTS TO PURSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES. SO FAR, OFFICERS SAY NO ONE FILED ANY REPORTS WITH THEM. >> MY CONCERN IS THAT HE COULD GO ANYWHERE AND WORK AGAIN IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM, IN A DAY CARE, ANYWHERE REPORTER: A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE PARA WON’T BE ABLE TO WORK FOR THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS DISTRICT AGAIN. THE DISTRICT ALSO TELLS US IT PLACED THE PARA ON LEAVE DURING ITS INVESITGATION. WE’RE TOLD HE DID NOT RETURN

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Council Bluffs Police tell KETV NewsWatch 7, a criminal investigation has now been opened against a paraeducator in the Council Bluffs Community School District following allegations that he inappropriately touched students.The school district confirms the employee was working at Wilson Middle School. KETV Newswatch 7 is not naming the paraeducator because he has not been arrested or charged with anything.Officials say the alleged contact happened in class during the school day in early December.According to the police report, one of the alleged victims is 11 years old. The district would not comment further on the students' ages or grades, only saying that they are in middle school. The two female students involved reported the case to administrators.District spokesperson Diane Ostrowski said an internal investigation by the school district found the students' reports to be valid, but said no charges were filed on behalf of the school. Instead, she said the families would have to file. A woman, who wishes not to be identified, said the paraeducator inappropriately touched the teenage girls' thighs and chest over their clothing. The woman is friends with a member of a family who said their daughter was violated.Ostrowski said the district did not send out a note to all parents because the behavior was isolated. Instead, the families of the students involved met with administrators and investigators. However, parents of Wilson Middle School students received a recorded message from the district just before KETV Newswatch 7 broke the story Tuesday night.The message said:"Good evening. This is a call for Wilson Middle School parents. It may be reported on the news tonight that a Wilson paraeducator resigned following reports of inappropriate behavior in a classroom."We want to assure you that an immediate and thorough investigation was conducted and it revealed that the behavior was isolated. Since this is a personnel and student privacy matter, no other details can be shared."However, we wanted you to know that we take all student reports seriously and will not tolerate inappropriate behavior by any staff member of the Council Bluffs Community School District."Parents said everyone should've known about the incident far before Tuesday night."It should be brought to people's attention that that did happen," the woman said. "It was investigated and obviously something was found."The woman fears the paraeducator will be able to work at other schools in the Metro."My concern is that he could go anywhere and work again in a school system, in a day care -- anywhere," the woman said.Ostrowski said the paraeducator won't be able to work for the Council Bluffs Community School District again.The district said it placed the man on leave during its investigation and that he later resigned.