Teacher at Winnipeg private Christian school fired after investigation into misconduct allegations

A teacher at a privateChristian school in Winnipeg has been fired following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour, but some say the decision took far too long and other staffshould also be terminated.

"I think the decision was great [but]I think that letting [thatteacher] go is the bare minimum," saidKrista Gerbrandt, whosetwo children attendedThe King's School until the family decided to pull them out last year and send them to a public school.

"I would like to see more, but I'm glad hewon't be there."

The school, which has 300 students frompreschool to Grade 12, is located onPanet Road in northeast Winnipeg and is affiliated with Gateway Church.

King's Schoolboard chair Andrew Franktold CBC News in May a number of students made complaints about the teacher earlier in the year. The board put the teacher on leave and hiredan independent, third-party investigator in February.

"After a thorough and careful review of the findings of the investigation to date, and with the advice of our legal counsel, the board has decided to terminate the teacher's employment, effective immediately," Frank told CBC in an email Thursday.

"The King's School is committed to the care and needs of its students, past and present, and we want to assure our community that this investigation does not conclude that commitment."

Gerbrandtscoffed at the statement, as didDanielle McNab, a former student who said she raised concerns about the teacher in 2018but nothing was done.

"They took their sweet time," she said. "I mean, I told them three [or] four years ago now."

Long hugs, massages

McNabwas a student at the school from kindergarten to Grade 11 before leaving in 2020 for a public school. She previously told CBC the teacher would walk up to female students inthe hallways and give them uncomfortably long hugs, massage their shoulders and would "be really close in proximity to us all the time," which was"weird and uncomfortable."

She and a friendtold another teacher at the school, but theirconcerns were dismissed by most of the staff as well as some students.

They would say, "Oh, he's such a good guy. He doesn't mean to (be)like that. That's just how he shows God's love," McNabsaid following the board's decision.

"Me and this other girl, we got a lot of crap for it.My biggest concern now is that he's gonna just go to another school and do it again."

When McNabheard there were more complaints this year, it prompted her to file a complaint with police in May.

A Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson told CBC News hercomplaint was investigated by the sex crimes unit but no charges have been laid. Police are no longer investigating the matter, the spokesperson said.

They did not say if police are investigating any other complaints regarding the teacher.

'It was widespread': parent

Gerbrandtsaid it shouldn't have taken an investigation by police or theindependent investigator for school administration to act.

"I don't think that The King's School takes the safety of the children to heart and makes it their No. 1 priority. If that were the case, [the teacher] would have been fired four years ago," she said.

"The administration absolutely knew about it four years ago.It was one of those things that if you were in high school at The King's School, you knew about [his] behaviour. It was widespread."

Gerbrandt said her daughter who completed Grade 9 at the school before leaving experienced touching by the teacher, but not to the extent thatMcNab did.

"But he definitely made her uncomfortable," saidGerbrandt, whois a friend ofMcNab's family.

She is now calling on the school board to fire the principal, who hasbeen there for several years, as well as a handful of teachers. She claims all were aware of what was happening.

"Your job is to teach these kids and to keep them safe and you failed."

CBC asked Frank for comment. In a statement, he said the third-party investigation into the teacher's behaviour is over, but there is an ongoing review of school policy and procedures.

Frank also said the Manitoba department of education and early childhood learning, which all teachers in the province are registered through,has been notifiedabout the circumstances surrounding the teacher's dismissal.

McNabwould like anapology from the school for not taking her concerns seriously in 2018.

"It kind of made me feel like I was going crazy. Like, did this actually happen?" she said, adding she heard about the firing from a friend.

"I haven't heard anything directly from the school since I left."