Hearing set for Clay teacher

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An arraignment in Oregon Municipal Court has been scheduled for Sept. 17 in the case of a Clay High School teacher who’s been charged with improperly touching a student.
Michael Heck, 53, faces two charges of sexual imposition and offensive or reckless sexual contact.
Both charges are third degree misdemeanors.
Jim Fritz, associate superintendent, issued a statement Sept. 6 that said the district received notification from a high school student that an employee may have violated board policy through “their communications and personal interactions.”
“In accordance with our district policies and procedures, we have placed the employee on administrative leave while we conduct a thorough investigation into the matter,” the statement says. “In addition, the district will cooperate with the Oregon Police Department in their investigation into this matter,
“As part of our commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, we take any concerns regarding staff conduct very seriously. Please understand that this decision was made to ensure that the investigation is handled with the utmost integrity and to protect the privacy of all parties involved.”

Incident at Fassett Jr. High School
In an unrelated matter, Jennifer Kollarik, principal of Fassett Junior High School, issued a statement Sept. 11 about an alleged post on Facebook described as “bullying and racial discrimination.”
“It is important for us to clarify the situation and reaffirm our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all our students,” the statement says. “Firstly, I want to emphasize that Fassett Junior High School takes any allegations of bullying and racial discrimination very seriously. We have established procedures to thoroughly investigate all such claims to ensure that our students’ safety and well-being are always upheld.
“Based on what has been shared with the district, the social media post does not accurately represent the actual events or circumstances of the specific incident that happened or the disciplinary outcome of the situation.”