Ingham County Sheriff investigating Holt Middle School issue
DELHI TWP., Mich (WLNS) – Ingham County Sheriff Officials and Holt School leaders are investigating allegations a substitute teacher at Holt Middle School was inappropriately touching youth.
The investigation comes after a child reported to her mother a substitute teacher had inappropriately touched her Wednesday.
“It’s not an OK situation here my kid literally looks at me and says, ‘I’m not going to school the rest of the week – at least. I don’t feel safe,” Lauren Demmon says.
And that’s when she learned her daughter says she was touched by a substitute teacher.
“She was like, ‘Yeah, he touched my upper thigh,’” Demmon says her daughter told her of the teacher’s actions. “‘He tried to take me into a room with him alone.’ She said that he stared at her the whole day in a messed up manner. He was licking his lips very slowly.”
Demmon’s 10-year-old daughter is not the only one alleging there was inappropriate behavior from the substitute. When Demmon’s daughter rebuffed the teacher, he allegedly targeted Demmon’s friend.
“He would put his arm out and give kids no choice but to back up into the room,” Demmon says of the incidents. “Her best friend dodged him and my daughter slapped his hand away.”
She claims officials escorted the substitute from school grounds but didn’t call the parents of the students impacted.
“You had until 2 p.m. – til the time my kid called me – to let me know that a predator was touching my child and making her uncomfortable the entire day,” she says of school officials’ alleged failure to reach out to her.
Demmon met Ingham County Sheriff’s Department officials at the school to file a criminal complaint – which the department confirms with 6 News is under investigation.
The ongoing criminal investigation doesn’t assuage her anger at school officials, however.
“The fact I have learned from my 10-year-old that a predator was touching her – it’s inappropriate,” she says.
School district officials declined to go on camera, but they did send the following letter to parents and 6 News.
Dear Hope Middle School families,
At Holt Public Schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our number one priority. We are reaching out to provide an update on reports of alleged inappropriate behavior by a substitute teacher we received on Wednesday at Hope Middle School.
In the afternoon, a group of students reported a substitute teacher had engaged in inappropriate conduct. When school leadership learned of these concerns, the school district began a review, and the substitute teacher was removed from the building. We followed all reporting guidelines in this matter, and we are working with local law enforcement. We will provide updates on our review as information becomes available and appropriate to share.
Our district takes reports of inappropriate conduct very seriously. Our teachers and staff members are held to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct, including an obligation to treat students with dignity, respect and to adhere to our school code of conduct as well as state laws.
We understand that reporting inappropriate conduct can be uncomfortable and difficult and we are proud of the students who brought these concerns to our attention. If your student reports any concerning behavior, we encourage you to contact us by phone at (517) 694-5715.
Thank you for choosing Holt Public.
Respectfully,
The Central Office Administration Team
Feb. 29, 2024 letter to Holt Middle School parents
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
