MINNESOTA: BILL AIMS TO BAR SEX OFFENDER TEACHERS

PFMLIT General, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF TRUST, TEACHERS SCHOOL STAFF

Kathy and Tim Schilla appeared before a state legislative panel to testify on behalf of a bill that would require that teaching licenses be denied or revoked for anyone convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the first through fifth degrees.  In 1997, the Duluth couple discovered that the teacher who had molested their then 9 year old daughter in 1984 was teaching upper elementary students at Albrook Elementary near Duluth.  They applied the pressure that led to the district securing, by paying for, the teacher's resignation.  Noting that the Legislature has taken similar action against school bus drivers convicted of sexual offenses, Rep. Doug Fuller, R-Bemidji, said that it made little sense not to give children the same protections in school as they get on the way to and from there.  

(Minneapolis, Minnesota)