Parents urge tighter security checks for volunteers at Norwin
Parents say Norwin School District should tighten its policies and procedures for volunteers undergoing background checks after it was discovered that a man who worked with the middle school musical pleaded guilty to corruption of minors in Fayette County.
“My concern is that this person was brought in (to the musical) by a teacher,” Tina McHugh of North Huntingdon, whose daughter was in the musical, “Frozen Jr.,” told the Norwin School Board this week.
“She (the teacher) has a responsibility to our children, to our kids and to the school district,” McHugh said, “to make sure our kids are safe every, single day.”
McHugh was addressing the controversy centered around how Brad W. Geyer, 37, of Connellsville, was able to be a volunteer at the school after pleading guilty in Fayette County Court on Nov. 1 to one count of furnishing liquor to a minor and three counts of corruption of minors. Geyer was sentenced on Nov. 6 to three years probation and ordered not to have any contact with the female victim. Additional details of his probation were not available from the Fayette County Adult Probation Office.
McHugh did not name the teacher, but Tobitha Sasso is the middle school theatre company sponsor. Sasso could not be reached for comment.
“My question is, ‘Did she know that?” McHugh said, referring to whether Sasso knew Geyer was on probation.
Volunteers at school events and activities should undergo a criminal background check every year, rather than every five years, McHugh said.
McHugh questioned why Sasso was not placed on administrative leave.
Superintendent Jeff Taylor declined to comment on whether Sasso faced any disciplinary actions as result of Geyer’s involvement in the musical.
“I don’t fault the (school) district. It is solely the teacher. She is the one who put the children at risk,” McHugh said, before a group of about 25 parents and students. The school board, following its policy in response to citizen comments, is not to respond directly.
Norwin learned of Geyer’s criminal record from a parent. Geyer had completed his application for security clearance prior to his guilty plea and sentencing, Taylor said after the meeting. Geyer was banned from school property once the administration learned about it and North Huntingdon police launched an investigation, the district said in a statement.
Connellsville police charged Geyer in April 2018 with 12 counts of indecent assault on a person younger than 16, but he was not prosecuted on those charges in return for his guilty plea. Connellsville police said the incidents with the girl occurred in May 2015, according to court documents.
Geyer could not be reached for comment.
The investigation is ongoing and the board members do not know any more about it than the public, said Brian Carlton, board president, after McHugh finished speaking.
“I have the same questions you have,” Carlton said.
Norwin has not received any information from the North Huntingdon police on their investigation into the matter, Taylor said.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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