from www.wnem.com – GRAND BLANC, Mich. — Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton has charged a Grand Blanc High School special education teacher with having inappropriate sexual relations with one of her students.
The teacher has been suspended pending the results of a police investigation of alleged sexual misconduct with an 18-year-old student.
Tracy Jean Stimac, 39, of Grand Blanc, is charged with one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct related to an incident that occurred on Jan. 13, 2011 in a vehicle in the parking lot of a Grand Blanc Township apartment complex.
The Flint Journal is reporting the teen is a special needs student.
Authorities were notified after two other teachers at the high school learned of the incident.
A third-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Stimac will be arraigned on the charge in 67th District Court.
Grand Blanc school officials said they take this and all allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously and issued this statement Friday:
“The charges that have been brought against this teacher are very alarming and in direct contradiction of our core mission, which is to educate and protect all students in our care. I sincerely hope that the alleged actions of one teacher will not reflect poorly on all of our staff members, who do their best for our students each and every day,” said Michael Newton, Superintendent of Grand Blanc Community Schools. “However, any act that compromises the safety and well-being of our students and staff will not be tolerated.”
Until the legal process has been completed, the school district said it would not comment on the specifics of the charges levied against the teacher.
Newton told TV5 that Stimac has been employed by the district since August, 2003.
The news of this incident comes a day after a former Caro softball coach, Mick Gotwalt, was charged with having sex with a 14-year-old player. Also on Thursday, TV5 learned a substitute teacher at Atherton Middle School in Flint is accused of having inappropriate contact with a student.