Marisa Kwiatkowski, and Chelsea Schneider

IndyStar

Two Indianapolis Public Schools employees are expected to face criminal charges Wednesday that accuse them of failing to report sexual abuse allegations involving a school counselor.

Marion Superior Court records indicate Lela "Tina" Hester, the IPS human resources director, and Shalon Dabney, a human resources case manager, will each be charged with a misdemeanor count of failure to make a report. The charges were listed as "pending" Tuesday night.

At least six school officials knew about allegations against counselor Shana Taylor as early as Feb. 17, but no one reported them to the Indiana Department of Child Services until Feb. 23, according to court records and interviews. Indiana law requires certain school officials to immediately report instances of suspected child abuse at their institutions to DCS or law enforcement.

Indiana law also requires anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to report it.

A mother met with William Jensen, assistant principal at Positive Supports Academy, on Feb. 17 to report the suspected misconduct involving her teenage son and Taylor. She showed Jensen copies of messages and inappropriate photos, according to court records.

Jensen contacted school Principal Mark Cosand, who had been on medical leave but came in to address the matter, IPS Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said.

Jensen also contacted Deb Leser, the director of student services, who instructed him to contact Hester, the IPS human resources director, court records state. Jensen forwarded the messages and photos to Dabney, the human resources case manager handling the case.

Dabney met with Taylor the next day, Feb. 18, and placed her on administrative leave.

Taylor was charged in March with nine felony counts of child seduction, one felony count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to court records. She also was fired.

Ferebee, who also learned of the allegations Feb. 17, previously said school officials rightly ensured Taylor could have no further contact with students. He said the district's failure to report the allegations to DCS wasn't discovered until Feb. 22, when an employee was processing paperwork relating to Taylor's termination. A school official called DCS the next day.

On Tuesday night, Ferebee thanked the Marion County prosecutor's office for its "thoroughness and professionalism."

"IPS will tolerate nothing less than the safest and most secure learning environment possible for our students, teachers and support personnel," he said in a statement. "Today's announcement by the prosecutor's office in no way undermines or diminishes the progress IPS continues to make every day in our schools, and I appreciate all the support we continue to receive from parents and the IPS family."

Neither Hester nor Dabney could be reached late Tuesday for comment.

Peg McLeish, spokeswoman for the Marion County prosecutor's office, declined to comment Tuesday night. It is unclear whether the prosecutor's office plans to pursue criminal charges against anyone else connected to the case.

Call IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.

Call IndyStar reporter Chelsea Schneider at (317) 444-6077. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyStarChelsea.

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