Chatfield High School’s athletic director is facing a misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse or neglect, and the school’s principal is on paid administrative leave, as Jeffco Public Schools investigates what it calls a violation of safety protocols.
Craig Aukland, the school’s athletic director, was issued the criminal summons Friday because he’s a mandatory reporter under state law, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Because the case involves juveniles, the sheriff’s office said it would not provide any further details.
Aukland was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday, said Cameron Bell, a Jeffco Public Schools spokeswoman. Principal Chad Broer has been on paid leave since Aug. 18.
Students at the school have been disciplined in connection with the situation, although Bell did not say how many. She also would not divulge the level of discipline or reasons for the discipline, citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
A letter to Chatfield families was distributed Tuesday night to inform them of the leaves of absence and the ongoing investigation, she said.
Bell did not provide more details into the allegations, citing the ongoing investigation.
Jim Ellis, who served as Chatfield’s principal from 1999 to 2004, was named interim principal. He retired from Ralston Valley High School in 2013. No interim athletic director has been named, but the district is looking to name someone, the letter said.
The letter, signed by Superintendent Scott Allensworth and Chief of Schools Dan Cohan, said placing employees on administrative leave was routine for these investigations and reminded parents that an investigation is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Efforts to reach Broer and Aukland were unsuccessful Friday.
Jeffco Public Schools is the second Front Range school district to place a principal on paid leave, pending investigation, as the school year begins.
Earlier this month, the Boulder Valley School District placed Fairview High School Principal Don Stensrud on leave while district officials investigate claims made in a federal lawsuit that he fostered an environment permissive of sexual assault at the high school.
In the lawsuit, two former Fairview students claim leaders at the high school knew during the 2016-2017 school year that a lacrosse player was accused of raping at least two students, but the administration failed to investigate and did not protect students from facing a hostile environment at school. The former lacrosse player has been charged in juvenile court with sexual assault, kidnapping and domestic violence.
Denver Post reporter Kieran Nicholson contributed to this report.
Chatfield High athletic director accused of failing to report child abuse, principal on administrative leave - The Denver Post
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