ELIZABETH, Colo. — Four staff members at Elizabeth Middle School are on paid administrative leave from the district and a criminal investigation is underway after the district found out about complaints from students.
"Earlier this school year, administration for Elizabeth School District learned of complaints that were made by some middle school students at Elizabeth Middle School in the spring," said Jason Hackett, public information officer for the Elizabeth School District.
The school district won't specify what those complaints were but stressed that they should have been reported immediately under Colorado's mandatory reporter laws.
Hackett said when the district found about those student complaints, they took action.
"Upon receiving word of those complaints, administration launched an investigation working with local law enforcement to ascertain what happened," Hackett said.
The Elizabeth Police Department said due to a conflict of interest, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office will handle the investigation. The DA's office said a criminal investigator is looking into the matter but couldn't share any details.
Elizabeth Schools won't say who exactly is on leave but in the same statement from the district about this investigation, they also announced Elizabeth High School Assistant Principal Kimberly Runyan will take over as the middle school's interim principal.
"You can probably read between the lines a little in the news release as far as positions but naming people, things like that, we're not at liberty to do that at this point because the investigation is still going on," Hackett said.
As for what kind of complaints students made, if student safety was compromised, or if staff members were put on leave for failing to report or as a result of these students' complaints, the district wouldn't say. But, Hackett stressed these students' allegations are being taken very seriously.
"Yes," he said. "Absolutely."
When it comes to learning at Elizabeth Middle School, Hackett said it's business as usual. And the district is bringing in retired educators to help fill the roles of the suspended staffers in the meantime.
For parents who have questions, Hackett said the superintendent is open to parents coming by to talk with the superintendent more about this.
The district is also planning to host a forum for EMS parents to help answer questions. That will be held Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Elizabeth Middle School from 5:30 - 7pm.
More reporting by Rachael Krause:
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