Only on 12: Richmond County school sex investigation
Only on 12: Richmond County school sex investigation Save Email Print
Posted: 6:19 PM Oct 3, 2008
Last Updated: 7:47 PM Oct 6, 2008
Reporter: Lynnsey Gardner
Email Address: lynnsey.gardner@wrdw.com

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Only on News 12 at 6 o'clock, October 3, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga -- A bombshell out of the Richmond County school system. Were Spirit Creek Middle School faculty members having sex with each other on campus while class was in session last year? That's the question at the heart of an investigation.

An e-mail sparked an internal affairs investigation at the Richmond County school system and tonight parents and Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden are talking only to News 12.

Class is in session this year at Spirit Creek Middle, but what may have happened there last year between faculty members is now under investigation.

The allegations include accusations that faculty members were having sex with each other here on school property during school hours.

The accused include teachers, members of the administration and a former school public safety officer.

"Wow. Wow. That's shocking. That's really shocking." Bonita Blocker's daughter is a seventh grader at Spirit Creek Middle School. "Anything like that should not be going on in the school system especially with the testing scores that we're putting out here -- everything that they do here should be concentrating on the children."

Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden agrees. "Initially some of the things communicated you would think should be something that's people's personal nature but then when they are making allegations of this happening at school, then yeah it becomes shocking."

It's the first investigation like this Dr. Bedden has seen in his career. "The nature of the allegations as well as the fact it could lead to someone not having a job or the ability to effective in their job makes it very very important people don't jump to conclusions."

So he's asking the community and parents for patience. "If they turn out to be true, it's very serious with the pieces that's been levied as accusations but the the first thing we want to do is make sure we are fair and make sure we do a full investigation."

That could take time. But Bonita agrees it's worth it. "Morally, ethically wrong. Just totally wrong. I pray that there is no substance to it but if there is, I know Dr. Bedden will deal with it accordingly."

So how much time could this take? Dr. Bedden says they hope to have the investigation wrapped up by sometime next week, so make sure to stay with News 12 for the latest on this developing story.

If any of the allegations are found to be true, Dr. Bedden says depending on the severity of the act, current employees may face the ultimate reprimand: termination.

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Posted by: Terry Location: home on Oct 7, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Ewwww!

Posted by: Heather Meadows, News 12 Web Producer Location: North Augusta, SC on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:51 AM
You will start to notice some redacted names in the comments. Normally we only remove profanity and hate speech, but in cases like this, we don't want to undermine the investigation...nor do we want an innocent person's name to be tarnished. If you have information that could be useful to investigators, please call the sheriff's office.

Posted by: Anon Location: Your Mom on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:10 AM
So she's into homeschooling then? ***** Posted by: lois Location: waynesboro, ga on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:32 PM Well if McCain and Palin get into office we want have to worry about this being a crime because Sarah wants to take sex education out of the school system anyway

Posted by: RyanNelson Location: Augusta on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I saw [name redacted] and [name redacted] have sex in the Gym, I'm a student there. It was after hours.

Posted by: Gaines Location: Augusta on Oct 6, 2008 at 07:46 PM
I used to go to SCMS and me and my friends who used to go there were just shocked. It's ridiculous how the school is going especially considering that my sister has to attend there now. What a shame.

Posted by: Heather Meadows, News 12 Web Producer Location: North Augusta, SC on Oct 6, 2008 at 07:06 PM
There is, actually! Stories are written in all caps for the teleprompter, and that text also serves as closed captioning.

Posted by: Bryan Location: Vermont on Oct 6, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Crazy thought: Have your journalists write normally instead of ALL CAPS. It might stretch their tiny brains but I'm sure if they actually earned their journalism degrees, they'll be able to handle basic grammar. It's just a thought. Though I am sure there is a great reason why you don't do that.

Posted by: John Location: GA on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Lois, What does removing sex ed have to do with people's inherent stupidity? Quit plugging politics and looking into the ethic and immoral repercussions. If these allegations prove true, there should be some job opening in the school system of Richmond County.

Posted by: lois Location: waynesboro, ga on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Well if McCain and Palin get into office we want have to worry about this being a crime because Sarah wants to take sex education out of the school system anyway.

Posted by: Jeff Location: MA on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:32 PM
"Anything like that should not be going on in the school system especially with the testing scores that we're putting out here -- everything that they do here should be concentrating on the children." Um, if they're having sex in school, do you really want them concentrating on the children instead of each other?

Posted by: Pedro Location: Behind the school on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:51 PM
I need to go back to school!

Posted by: I got out Location: Aiken on Oct 6, 2008 at 03:38 PM
This is so typical for Richmond County. It seems like a hopeless situation to me. I'm so glad I got my child out of all that turmoil and into a better school system.

Posted by: Michael Location: Indiana on Oct 6, 2008 at 02:53 PM
it's the Salem witch trials all over again... *sarcasm is applied* ;)

Posted by: Kermit Location: New York on Oct 6, 2008 at 02:37 PM
As a parent of teenaged boys, I'm afraid this looks alot more like a desperate ploy for attention. These kids are always searching for new ways to get into the news and there is a sick sort of pleasure they get in humiliating their authority figures. You can bet this is a Punked Gotcha internet meme.

Posted by: Bill Location: SC on Oct 6, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Yet another reason to home school your children. Sending your kids to a government school is child abuse.

Posted by: Heather Meadows, News 12 Web Producer Location: North Augusta, SC on Oct 6, 2008 at 02:11 PM
The upshot is, if you ever see a problem with our site, please let me know. I do strive for excellence here, and I appreciate your help. My email address is heather.meadows@wrdw.com. You can also call me at 803-278-1212, extension 3310.

Posted by: Heather Meadows, News 12 Web Producer Location: North Augusta, SC on Oct 6, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Hi, I'm the editor! *ducks*

I wanted to explain a little of how our process works. Our stories are all originally written in ALL CAPS. The reporters use software to automatically change the caps to sentence case, and then they go back quickly to capitalize things that need to be capitalized. Reporters are usually pretty busy, so they may not catch everything.

I try to clean up the stories as much as possible, and usually I'm able to do a decent job. Unfortunately in this case, I was out of the office at a web seminar from Friday through the weekend, so I didn't see this story until today.

Before I worked here, I used to make fun of local TV news stations' spelling and grammatical errors. Now I know that it's just not that simple--there isn't a person solely dedicated to editing. (I do ad design, videos, general content management, answering questions, handling web contests...pretty much ANYTHING that has to do with the site.)



Posted by: Robyn Location: Texas on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:54 PM
I really want to know who the editor is. There are far too many typos and misspellings. "thay"? "expecially "? How about improper capitalization: "dr. Dana bedden". Some of the sentences contain grammar errors also. The editor should be ashamed.

Posted by: Hott Location: Harrisonburg VA on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:37 PM
all i have to say is .... giggity giggity giggity goo

Posted by: David Location: Yourmom on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Are they hiring?

Posted by: george Location: tampa on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:31 PM
At least they are not doing the students.

Posted by: Derp Location: Ohio on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:31 PM
I, for one, find Bonita Blocker's comment hilarious. She finds teachers having sex in school reprehensible, yes, but this is ESPECIALLY bad because the school test scores are low.

Posted by: Kelvin Location: TX on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:31 PM
What did the email say?

Posted by: Jo Location: Mamma on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:10 PM
I WANT PICTURES - NAMES

Posted by: Me Location: Seattle WA on Oct 6, 2008 at 01:05 PM
That's hot!

Posted by: Anon on Oct 6, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Holy Mackerel. Are there any openings in the SCMS faculty. Where can I send my resume?

Posted by: wharfrat Location: Michigan on Oct 6, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Better than having sex with the kids at least.

Posted by: Sam Location: Baltimore, MD on Oct 6, 2008 at 12:51 PM
EXPECIALLY?

Posted by: Mr Joseph Location: Knickerstudmuffin on Oct 6, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Oh my, I am so worried about the end times that I just had to yell at everyone to go to church and pray. But I am too chicken to post my real name. There is no God that cares about any of you. Give it up. Jesus is a myth.

Posted by: ANYNOMOUS Location: HEPHZIBAH on Oct 5, 2008 at 09:54 PM
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS SHOULD HAVE USE BETTER JUDGEMENT.WE CAN EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE NON PROFESSIONAL BUT FROM PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, WE CANNOT TOLERATE THIS AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED SHOUL BE AND WILL BE FIRED!

Posted by: anynomous Location: augusta GEORGIA on Oct 5, 2008 at 02:01 PM
i go to scms and it's a really nice shool. i would never thought something would happen like this. but scms is a nice scool and will stay that way.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 4, 2008 at 09:04 PM
I THINK IT'S [name redacted]

Posted by: teacher on Oct 4, 2008 at 03:05 PM
mcrae probably turning over in his grave...

Posted by: ANYNOMOUS Location: AIKEN, S.C. on Oct 4, 2008 at 11:38 AM
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY... TOMORROW IS SUNDAY. EVERY ONE PLEASE GET UP AND ATTEND A CHURCH NEAR YOU. AND PRAY. THE END TIMES ARE CLOSER THAN EVER. LAWLESSNESS IS ABOUND. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

Posted by: john Location: martinez,ga on Oct 3, 2008 at 08:42 PM
My wife was a teacher at spirit creek middle last year. She also has good friends that taught out there and i would like any current updates that you have on the subject.

Posted by: anynomous Location: hephzibah, ga on Oct 3, 2008 at 08:03 PM
OMGSh, i am a seventh grader here and i don't know anything about this. why are they now saying something. they could have notified someone.

Posted by: Ada Green Location: Augusta,Ga on Oct 3, 2008 at 06:45 PM
This does not shock me. Tuesday I enrolled my child at Spirit Creek.The staff are complete unproffessionals.I heard one staff member talking about greasing her face up going to the "hood" and getting "ghetto" with someone.The entire time I was there, children were walking the hall,instead of being in class. The students that were in the classroom were walking around and arguing with each other. The teachers are out of touch with the students. My niece said she witnessed students french kissing.Though the final straw was today,my son a niece saw a young man waving a shotgun at the bus daring a student to get of the bus!!! Something has to be done!!! Im withdrawing my son Monday!!!

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