Schools

Booker Science Teacher Investigated

The teacher has been placed on administrative leave during a police investigation, after a complaint was made by a male student.

A 43-year-old Booker High School science teacher is under investigation, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports.

Douglas O'Connell is on paid administrative leave, working at the district's Human Resources office, while a Sarasota Police Department investigation is under way.

Principal Rachel Shelley told the Herald-Tribune that O'Connell was placed on leave April 15. She declined to provide details of the case to protect the confidentiality of the male student who had made the complaint.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

O'Connell had a verbal reprimand in 2010, after making an "inappropriate" comment on Facebook to a student, according to the Herald-Tribune.

Read the full article: Booker High Teacher Placed on Leave Amid Investigation.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here