WARROAD -- A Warroad teacher has been placed on administrative leave while the school district investigates an allegation of an inappropriate relationship with a student, Superintendent Craig Oftedahl said Friday.
Warroad High School science teacher Amy Haataja has been on paid leave since Jan. 15 while the district conducts an internal investigation, Oftedahl said, adding that law enforcement is not involved.
"The matter that we are investigating is a rumor that we are checking out," he said. "It's an investigation involving an individual teacher and a student."
Oftedahl released a statement to media outlets Friday afternoon, saying that Haataja was put on leave and the matter is still under investigation. He said he expects the inquiry to be completed in the next couple of weeks but could not disclose any further details.
The district has not issued a statement to parents or teachers about the matter, but he declined to say if there are plans to do so.
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Haataja spent four years as a part-time science teacher at Lake of the Woods High School and left to start her current full-time job in Warroad last fall, said Lake of the Woods Superintendent Steve Wymore. She was not investigated or subject to disciplinary action during her time in the district, he said.
Haataja declined to comment when contacted by phone Friday.
