Crown Point resident urges school district to improve reporting of inappropriate sexual contact in the wake of teacher charged

Jul. 26—A local pediatrician Monday urged the Crown Point School Board to take measures to improve reporting mechanisms and increase student safety in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against a longtime teacher.

Dr. Lisa Gold said she wanted to address the issues of educator sexual misconduct and student safety in the wake of the charges against Christopher "Kit" Degenhart, which were made public Friday. School Board President David Warne warned comments could not include discussion of any individual. She was the lone person to speak.

The comments come after drama teacher and chair of the performing arts department Degenhart, 50, was arrested Thursday. He faces two felony charges of child seduction which carry sentences of one to six years. He was charged Friday and released after posting $3,000 bond, according to the Lake County Prosecutor's Office.

According to the probable cause affidavit obtained from the prosecutor, the allegations of the inappropriate relationship came to light after the victim, now a 20-year-old college student, reported the alleged relationship to her therapist. The alleged relationship began in February 2020 when the then senior at CPHS was 17, according to court documents. Degenhart was 47 at the time.

Gold said once information became public last week she read many "disturbing and revealing" comments on social media. She said relationships can occur with adolescents because they have diminished capacity to appraise risks, they have difficulty regulating emotions and they do not reach a level of competency on their behavior and decision making until their early 20s.

There appears to be a culture where students witness things and may not feel their concerns will be addressed, and that potentially staff who are aware of educator sexual misconduct and are not speaking up, she continued.

Students know there is a tip line, but she questioned whether they believed their tips would be heard. She encouraged the board to look at how to better hear student concerns and educate them on proper reporting as well as school policies to provide more detailed direction to school employees and to whistleblowers if inappropriate behavior is suspected.

School safety awareness covers if you see something, say something, she said, The same needs to apply to employees.

"Educate staff that ESM (educator sexual misconduct) is 100% no tolerance," Gold said.

Under Indiana law, anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused must make a report. The Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, which protects the identity of those reporting abuse or neglect allegations, is 1-800-800-5556.

Warne read a statement and said the school board would not be able to comment on the situation while the investigation is ongoing.

"We are deeply disappointed and very concerned regarding the charges against Mr. Degenhart," Warne said. "The well being and safety of our children is a serious matter."

He said the district is committed to assisting the ongoing investigation but is unable to share any additional information. Warne said he knows that parents are understandably frustrated but the investigation must continue with the integrity and confidentiality required by law.

Degenhart was a teacher for more than 25 years at Crown Point High School, according to his LinkedIn page.

Duneland School Corporation Superintendent Chip Pettit was the principal at Crown Point High School from 2012-2019, but he declined comment when contacted about the allegations against Degenhart.

"I do not wish to comment on the matter," he wrote in an email.

Superintendent Todd Terrill after the meeting said the school does provide an anonymous tip line on its website for students and staff to report concerns of any kind, not just of potential misconduct. He said the tip line is used quite frequently.

Along with the tip line Terrill said he is also hopeful students will have contact with one trusted adult who they feel they can talk to about their concerns.

He said the administration and the board will be evaluating the investigation and due process as it considers appropriate action regarding Degenhart's employment within the school corporation.

"Right now we are in the middle of the summer and have a little bit of time to cooperate with authorities," Terrill said.

Amy Lavalley contributed to this report.

cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com

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