RSSEast Valley teacher meets with district officials
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MOXEE, Wash. -- The East Valley School District is continuing its internal investigation of Michele Taylor, the physical education teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student.
District officials met with Taylor Wednesday for a "due process meeting," according to Michael Patterson, an attorney for the district. Following the meeting, Patterson said Taylor denied the allegations against her.
"I can't really get into the details of the meeting," he said, citing privacy concerns.
However, he said the district now plans to call witnesses in for interviews.
"We're hoping we could conclude that by the end of next week," Patterson said, adding the "options are wide open."
Meantime, the 31-year-old Taylor remains on paid administrative leave.
Ulvar Klein, Taylor's criminal attorney, said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting because it was a personnel matter. Klein said Taylor was represented through the teachers' union by lawyer Joe Evans.
Klein said it was his understanding that Taylor did deny the allegations during the meeting.
"Now the school district has to decide what to do about her employment," Klein said. "That decision has not been made yet."
A P.E. teacher at East Valley High School since 2004, Taylor is charged with first-degree sexual misconduct for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old male student in the back of her truck outside the Yakima Kmart store.
She is also charged with two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. Authorities allege she exchanged more than 400 text messages with the 16-year-old and a 15-year-old student between March and June.
"If the allegations are true, she will not be back in the classroom," Patterson said.
Taylor was placed on paid leave in June after school officials learned of the allegations and informed the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.
Taylor made her first appearance in Yakima County Superior Court last Friday, saying nothing other than yes, she understood her rights and the charges against her. Because she obeyed a summons to appear, the judge agreed to let her remain free on her own recognizance.
Her husband, Kevin Taylor, is also a physical education teacher in the East Valley School District. They have 5-year-old triplets.
Evans could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
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