Local

Columbia County school employee accused of 'inappropriate communications' with student

LAKE CITY, Fla. — A local school employee has been suspended after allegedly having inappropriate communication with a student.

Deputies are now investigating the employee at Columbia County High School. Investigators say the employee who is a man texted back and forth with a student.

The school district sent Action News Jax this statement: "The Columbia County School District is currently conducting an investigation into allegations that a district employee had inappropriate communications with a student. The Columbia County School District employee has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation."

Students told Action News Jax the employee is a coach. They say several students were called into the Guidance Counselor’s Office this week and were asked about him. Deputies haven’t released his name, because no charges have been filed.

The community was just in the national spotlight less than two weeks ago. Law enforcement agencies up and down the East Coast were looking for Rian Rodriguez, a Lake City soccer coach and Caitlyn Frisina, a Fort White High School student who took off together and were later found in New York.

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