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Michele Taylor will have 10 days to ask for an appeal hearingYakima Herald-Republic
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MOXEE, Wash. -- The East Valley School District sent a letter to physical education teacher Michele Taylor on Monday saying there is "probable cause" to terminate her.
Taylor, 31, is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student last spring. She has been on paid leave since June.
Seattle attorney Michael Patterson, representing the school district, said a letter was mailed to Taylor on Monday, informing her that the school district intends to end her contract.
"Based on an investigation, the district found there was probable cause to terminate her," Patterson said.
Taylor will have 10 days to decide if she wants to appeal the decision.
If she does appeal, the district will conduct a hearing over the matter.
When district officials met with Taylor on Oct. 21, she denied the allegations against her, Patterson said.
After the October meeting, district officials said they would further investigate the allegations and interview witnesses.
Bremerton attorney Joe Evans, who works for the Washington Education Association, represented Taylor at the October school meeting.
Contacted Monday, Evans said he couldn't comment on the existence of a school district letter or potential termination, but he said he would continue to represent Taylor in civil matters, such as school hearings.
Ulvar Klein of Yakima is Taylor's criminal attorney. She made her first appearance in Yakima County Superior Court on Oct. 16, 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.
Taylor has taught physical education at East Valley High School since 2004. Her husband, Kevin Taylor, is also a physical education teacher in the district.
* Jane Gargas can be reached at 509-577-7690 or jgargas@yakimaherald.com.
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