Western PA School District Sex Scandal Broadens

PITTSBURGH, PA — A third teacher in a Western Pennsylvania school district allegedly was involved in inappropriate contact with a student.

The Laurel Highlands School District, in Fayette County, announced it is investigating allegations against a current staff member who had activities with a former district student. The allegedly inappropriate activity occurred in 2009.

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"To ensure the safety of our school environment, the school district placed the employee on leave pending the outcome of the investigation," the district stated in a release.

"The allegations do not involve any current student in the school district. The school district is cooperating with appropriate law enforcement authorities and will continue to do so during the investigation.

"As this involves a personnel matter, the district cannot respond to any further inquiries. The district remains committed to the safety of our students."

Laurel Highlands already has hired an outside law firm after two other high school teachers recently were accused of inappropriate contact with students.

Laurel Highlands High School JROTC instructor Daniel Cervone, 50, was arrested last month after Pennsylvania State Police learned of allegations of sexual activity between Cervone and a 15-year-old student.

Cervone has been charged with institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor.

A week earlier, Martin Gatti, 50, a Laurel Highlands High School teacher and onetime Uniontown City Council member, also was charged with attempted institutional sexual assault, unlawful conduct with a minor and corruption of minors.

State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, a Fayette County Republican, has asked the state attorney general's office to probe a possible pattern of district misconduct and failures in oversight.

Additionally, Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said he is investigating similar accusations in other southwestern Pennsylvania districts.