LAPORTE | The LaPorte Community School Corp. on Tuesday hired a $250-an-hour Valparaiso lawyer to investigate what school officials may have known about an alleged sexual relationship between a former high school volleyball coach and a player.
The LaPorte School Board chose to hire the lawyer the same night they discussed the best ways to address an anticipated $1.66 million budget shortfall next year from the state.
"We wanted to use an external source," Superintendent Judith DeMuth said of the investigator.
DeMuth did not have an estimate for the amount of time Larry Evans, a labor lawyer with Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP, will need to conduct the inquiry but said he would start "as quickly as possible."
She could not comment on whether school staff would be required legally to speak to Evans.
Evans was hired as Indiana State Police expect to investigate what may have been known about an alleged relationship between Robert Ashcraft, a former assistant junior varsity volleyball coach, and a 15-year-old player in 2007.
Ashcraft, 45, is charged with two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one felony count of child seduction.
At least one parent of LaPorte students expressed disappointment at the dual inquiries. Randy Bowser called it "ridiculous" to spend the money on Evans while police are investigating the same thing.
"I personally have a hard time (with them) investigating," said Bowser, who has two children at LaPorte High School.
Bowser lobbed criticism at school officials, saying, "We have hired you to make sure these kids are well taken care of. The thing I'm so upset about is that the system failed."
After the five-minute regular board meeting, members spoke with DeMuth about addressing an expected loss of $1.66 million in state funding next year. DeMuth said it likely would be necessary to reduce programs and cut some staff positions or hours throughout the district.
"This isn't something we like to do, but it has to be done," DeMuth said.
Among the positions she listed as "vulnerable" were reading teachers, computer lab staff and elementary school library staff.
