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LHS admin on leave during investigation into sexual allegation

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A Lebanon High School administrator has been placed on leave following an investigation into a report that they had “inappropriately touched” a student.

On Feb. 8, the Lebanon Police Department was made aware of the report by an investigator with the Missouri Department of Social Services. According to the investigator, a Lebanon High School counselor made a hotline report that there had been “sexual allegations against” a school administrator. The administrator had allegedly “inappropriately touched a student prior to a basketball game,” according to an LPD report released Wednesday morning to the Record.

The Lebanon Police Department is aiding social services in the investigation. LPD Sgt. Kacie Springer, who is the public information officer for the department, declined to comment on the matter.

“This is still an ongoing investigation, and at this time, we are not releasing further details,” she said in an email to the Record.

According to the police report, the social services investigator spoke with the district’s superintendent and was told that the employee had been placed on administrative leave “pending the outcome of this investigation.” Lebanon R-3 spokesperson Jacy Overstreet confirmed that the employee had been placed on leave in an email to the Record.

“As this is a personnel issue, we are unable to discuss any details,” she added in response to questions about the investigation.

The Lebanon Police Department report does not name the accused administrator. In addition to this, it is the Laclede County Record’s policy to not identify suspects in investigations. The Record will report more details in the investigation as they become available.