CONCORD, MI – Concord High School Principal Cheryl Price is apologizing and meeting with parents following an incident where a convicted sex offender visited the school to speak to a class.
The 28-year-old man has served time in prison and has completed parole for breaking and entering and third-degree criminal sexual conduct related to incidents that occurred about 10 years ago while he was a Concord High student, Price said in a May 15 letter sent to parents and guardians of students in the class the man visited about three weeks ago.
Price said she was contacted by Concord Police Chief Don Munster who asked if the man could speak to students because the man wanted to prevent some of them from “making the same horrible mistakes” he had made, the letter said.
In the letter, Price said she understood the sex offense was the result of the man, who was 17 at the time, having a 15-year-old girlfriend. He spoke to 34 students in a fifth hour health class.
“This should never have happened,” Price said in the letter. “School property is not a proper place for a sex offender, regardless of the circumstances.”
Munster, Price, the classroom teacher and another staff person were with the man at all times during the class presentation, and he had no direct contact with students, Price’s letter said.
"This situation has been addressed in length by all parties and everybody is of the position that we've all learned from this situation and are moving ahead positively with the best interest of the students in mind," Munster said.
The incident, which also was discussed at the Monday, May 13 Concord School Board meeting, has been turned over to school district attorneys, said Superintendent Terri Mileski, adding that at this point it doesn’t appear that any laws have been broken.
However, in a May 10 email she sent to Concord School Board members, Price said she did fail to follow the school district’s established protocol regarding outside speakers visiting classrooms. In the email, she said she should have sent permission slips home to give the parents or guardians of the students in the class the opportunity to grant or withhold permission for the students to hear the speaker.
In the email, Price said she takes full responsibility for the situation.
Price will meet from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 in the high school library with any parents or guardians of students in the class who have questions or concerns they would like to discuss with her.
Price also had scheduled a similar meeting for Sunday, May 19 at the high school, but no one attended, Mileski said. Both meeting days and times were in the letter sent to parents and guardians of the students in the class.
Others wishing to discuss the matter can call Price at 524-3834, ext. 1103.