School district addresses personnel matter as Missouri Valley Police confirm an active investigation
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa — The Missouri Valley Community School District has confirmed that a teacher is currently on paid administrative leave amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student.
The Missouri Valley Police Department is also investigating the allegations. Police Chief Lee Lange confirmed to Missouri Valley Voices that the department received a report concerning the matter on September 18 and that an investigation is active. Missouri Valley Voices is not identifying the teacher or the student at this time.
The allegations remain under investigation, and no determination of wrongdoing has been announced.Superintendent Christi Gochenour confirmed to Missouri Valley Voices that the district is aware of the allegations.
When asked whether administrative or employment action had been taken, Gochenour stated that the teacher is currently on “paid administrative leave pending further information.” Placement on paid administrative leave is not, by itself, a finding that misconduct occurred.
Missouri Valley Police Confirm Active Investigation
Missouri Valley Police Chief Lee Lange confirmed that the department received a report concerning allegations involving a teacher and student on September 18.
Lange confirmed that the matter is actively being investigated. Missouri Valley Voices is not reporting who initially contacted law enforcement or drawing conclusions about how or when the allegations first came to the attention of police. The existence of a police investigation does not establish that a crime occurred or that any individual committed wrongdoing.
Because the matter remains under investigation, Missouri Valley Voices is also not publishing unverified details or community rumors regarding what allegedly occurred.
District Says Required Agencies Were Notified
Missouri Valley Voices asked the district whether the matter had been reported to law enforcement, Iowa Health and Human Services, the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners or another appropriate agency.
Gochenour responded:“All agencies required by law were notified.”The district did not specify which individual agencies were notified or when those notifications occurred.
Missouri Valley Voices has separately confirmed that the Missouri Valley Police Department received a report on September 18 and is actively investigating.
The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office has also confirmed, in response to an open-records request from Missouri Valley Voices, that it was not notified by the Missouri Valley Community School District regarding the allegations.
The Sheriff’s Office further indicated that it would anticipate being notified if criminal activity were suspected and would anticipate involvement by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in such a matter.
District Cites Personnel Confidentiality
Gochenour said she had been waiting for guidance from the district’s attorney regarding what information could appropriately be released because the allegations involve a personnel matter.
She told Missouri Valley Voices:“Any documentation we have would be considered confidential personnel information and therefore is not subject to disclosure pursuant to Iowa code section 22.7(11).”
Gochenour also stated that, as superintendent, she is responsible for providing public comments regarding district issues.When asked whether there was anything else the district or School Board believed the public should understand about how the matter has been handled, Gochenour responded:
“The safety of our students is mine and the MVCSD School Board’s top priority. We are following both local policies and state law in addressing this personnel matter.”
Gochenour said the district will have no further public comment regarding the matter at this time.
Teacher Contacted for Comment
Missouri Valley Voices also reached out directly to the teacher who is the subject of the allegations and provided an opportunity to respond.As of publication, the teacher has not responded.The lack of a response should not be interpreted as an admission or indication of wrongdoing. If a response is received following publication, Missouri Valley Voices will review it and update the story as appropriate.
What We Know — and What We Don’t
At this time, the following information has been confirmed:The Missouri Valley Community School District is aware of allegations involving a teacher and student.The allegations concern an alleged inappropriate relationship.The teacher is currently on paid administrative leave pending further information.
The district has not publicly disclosed which individual agencies were notified or when those notifications occurred. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that it was not notified by the district. Missouri Valley Police have confirmed receiving a report on September 18, although the information currently available to Missouri Valley Voices does not establish that the district was the source of that report.
Superintendent Christi Gochenour says all agencies required by law were notified.Missouri Valley Police Chief Lee Lange confirmed that his department received a report concerning the matter on September 18.The Missouri Valley Police Department is actively investigating.Several important details have not been publicly established.
The district has not publicly disclosed the specific conduct underlying the allegations, when administrators first became aware of the matter, when the teacher was placed on leave, which individual agencies were notified or when those notifications occurred.
Police have not announced any finding of criminal wrongdoing.
Missouri Valley Voices will continue to distinguish between allegations and independently confirmed facts as both the district’s process and the law-enforcement investigation continue.
Information for Parents and Community Members
Missouri Valley Voices recognizes that publication of this story may result in questions from parents and members of the community, particularly because MVV has made the decision not to publicly identify the teacher at this stage.
Superintendent Christi Gochenour has stated that she is responsible for providing public comments regarding district issues.
Parents or community members with questions for the school district may contact:
Christi Gochenour,
SuperintendentEmail: cgochenour@movalleycsd.org
District Office: 712-642-2706
The district has stated that it will have no further public comment regarding the personnel matter at this time.
Missouri Valley Voices will continue following the matter and will update this story if additional information is confirmed through law enforcement, the school district, state agencies, public records or a response from the teacher.
This is a developing story.
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