Clayton County News 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Student, volunteer caught having sex in classroom

Megan Matteucci
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A student and a former student were caught having sex in a Clayton County classroom after a teacher left them unattended

Forest Park High School teacher Kevin Jones was suspended for 20 days without pay, district spokesman Charles White said Wednesday.

Jones returned to school last week.

The incident occurred last month when Jones was leading a drama club rehearsal after school with a 20-year-old Forest Park High graduate.

“The teacher left the classroom after he had informed the students they had to go home,” White said.

The teacher then left the classroom.

A short time later, a school administrator entered the classroom and found a 17-year-old female student having sex with the 20-year-old graduate, White said. The other students had left.

An internal investigation found Jones violated the district’s employment policy.

“He was suspended for failure to provide adequate supervision for an after-school sponsored activity,” White said.

The female student, who was a senior, has since transferred to another district, White said.

The former student was involved in the drama club when he was a student and had volunteered to help with the production. He no longer volunteers at the school.

School officials said the sex was consensual and no charges were filed.

Jones teaches world history and drama.

Parents plan to discuss the incident, along with other Forest Park High concerns, at a parents forum Friday at 7 p.m. at Forest Park City Hall.

“Our biggest complaint is there is no communication plan,” said Shanda R. Ross, mother of a Forest Park student. “None of the parents knew there was a substitute teacher for this period of time. You have 20 days a month where your child will be with a substitute and likely just doing worksheets. That's affecting academics.”

Ross and other parents also are working to establish a local PTA. The first PTA meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m Thursday at Forest Park High.