Stoneham High employee under investigation after school search
Published on June 22nd, 2005
A Stoneham High School employee is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after reportedly engaging in suspicious online activity, according to multiple sources.
Police officials and school officials remain tight-lipped about the search of the school and the circumstances behind the investigation, but what is known is that FBI officials came to the high school June 9 to investigate the matter and searched through at least one computer at the school.
After interviews and the aforementioned search, the suspected employee has been placed on unpaid leave pending the result of the federal investigation.
"To my knowledge, there have been no arrests made, but there is an ongoing investigation involving a school employee that is not a teacher," said Stoneham Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Connelly, who declined to identify the employee or get into specifics. "Other than that, there really isn't much I can comment on due to the nature of the investigation."
"The employee is on unpaid suspension pending a resolution of the investigation," added Connelly.
Stoneham Police declined to comment citing the fact that there was still an active, ongoing investigation and referred all questions to the school administration.
Several Selectmen seemed rankled when the allegations caught them by surprise and felt as if a "cover-up" of the investigation was being attempted.
"One thing I know is that there aren't any secrets in the Big House," said Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello, referring to the small world nature of the Town of Stoneham and the speed with which information travels. "There's no reason to try to hide something. Why not just come out and be upfront about whatever is going on? That's one thing I learned...if you always tell it like it is then you have nothing to worry about."
"All I know is the feds came down and checked some of the school's computers," added the Selectman. "I'd like to know more and I'm sure many of the parents at the high school would too."
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