Police: 3 Doherty Employees Gave Alcohol To Minors

Three Doherty High School employees were placed on unpaid administrative leave Tuesday for alleged inappropriate actions involving students, according to Colorado Springs police and School District 11.

Police said the three individuals provided alcohol and drank with minors on multiple occasions. The most recent incident was on Sunday at a Super Bowl party.

Two Doherty students and possibly an unknown third minor were involved, police said. D-11 contacted their parents to inform them of the allegations. D-11 said the alleged incidents did not happen on school grounds.

“This is the first thing like this that I remember hearing about,” said Jan Tanner, D-11’s school board president. “I don’t think it’s an ongoing problem that we need to worry about. But it’s being dealt with immediately.”

D-11 said the employees aren’t teachers, but are education support personnel responsible for tutoring and a variety of other duties.

Students said they had heard about a weekend party with alcohol served, but were surprised to hear that adults from school may be involved.

“I think they should be fired,” said Christian Brock, a Doherty junior. “It’s their job to educate the students, not serve them alcohol. We don’t want that at our school.”

The police school resource officer is taking the lead in the criminal phase of the ongoing investigation. The names of the employees are not being released yet.

Police said a possible charge is contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a felony punishable by up to a year in prison.

Meanwhile, in another D-11 matter, the school board heard public comment from about 15 people Tuesday on a plan to revise the student dress code. The policy was last updated in 2005.

D-11 wants the policy to be more consistent from school to school and easier to understand. Some parents said they want a policy that is strictly enforced and aimed at students who regularly violate it.

Suggestions for improving the policy include using pictures or video to illustrate unacceptable attire; getting parents more involved in their children’s attire; provide more replacement clothing for policy violators to avoid sending them home; and have violators consult with school staff of the same sex to avoid misunderstandings.

The idea of school uniforms was raised, with differing responses. Two principals support uniforms for all schools, but several parents opposed the idea. School board members said they are more likely to side with parents on the matter.

D-11 said five schools currently require uniforms.

A final vote on the revised dress code is expected later this month.