HILLTOWNS — Parents are concerned for the safety of their children at Berne-Knox-Westerlo after a teacher resigned following an investigation that involved the county sheriff’s office.

Chemistry teacher Brian McCoy had his resignation authorized by the board of education at a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30, with the effective date being two days prior.

McCoy could not be reached by The Enterprise.

McCoy had just last year been recognized by the Capital Area School Development Association for his teaching, delivered the commencement address to the BKW Class of 2021, and was named teacher of the year in 2018. 

A notice sent to parents by the district on Jan. 30 at 8:21 p.m. stated that, after being made aware of allegations, “the district immediately began an investigation into this matter. After consulting with local law enforcement and conducting an internal review, the staff member has resigned, and pending Board of Education approval, will no longer be employed by the district.” 

The notice also said, “As a district we take the health and safety of our school community very seriously, and thoroughly investigate all information brought to our attention.”

The notice went on to say that counselors would be available to both faculty and students, and that it recognizes “this news may be difficult for them to process,” without addressing any specific allegations. 

Superintendent Bonnie Kane told The Enterprise she could not speak about personnel matters and referred to the notice sent to families.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to an Enterprise inquiry.

On a social media page for district parents, many spoke openly about rumors and were angry that they were left in the dark about it. They were also angry that, having resigned, McCoy would be free to teach at another school district.

Kane denied a specific rumor that students were being told not to discuss the situation, lest they be suspended or face other consequences. 

“At no time was the threat of suspension raised with students for having productive conversations about their questions and concerns in this situation,” she said. “Students were encouraged to discuss their concerns with a trusted staff member, counselor, or administrator. As a district, it’s our priority to share information with our staff and faculty along with students and families regarding school safety.”

“In addition,” she said, “we have established an open-door policy between our school leadership, guidance staff, mental health practitioners, building principals, and additional school committees to create safe opportunities for students to share feedback or information related to campus safety.”

Parent and district alumna Jennifer Cossu told The Enterprise, “It makes me sad because I graduated from Berne, I’ve lived in Berne … my whole life, I have my daughter that goes to Berne, and I want her to go to my alma mater,” Cossu said. “It’s just so sickening and so sad, and it’s, like why? Just protect kids.”

With regard to student safety in general, Kane said, “New York State requires that all prospective school employees, including teachers, undergo a criminal background check and fingerprinting. The check includes a review of the applicant's criminal history, local and state court records, and abuse and neglect registries. Under this law, school employers cannot hire applicants without obtaining fingerprint-based criminal background checks and clearances from the state.

“The district has an assigned School Resource Officer (SRO) on-site five days a week to monitor campus security and offer student engagement through public safety outreach programs as it relates to health and safety,” she said. “Additionally, the district regularly holds training sessions on the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and mandated reporting training. These trainings are required for all public school employees. The high school also has a QR-based Concern Report Form that students can access through their smartphones to report any issues or concerns to school officials.”

“For public safety,” Kane said, “the district has an extensive network of hallway and campus cameras regularly monitored by the SRO and administrators, and additional safety measures are established for afterschool events and transportation, such as athletics, clubs, and activities. BKW teachers and faculty are required to follow guidelines set forth by the district’s Employment Handbook.”