Teacher trouble — School board looks for ways to prevent misconduct

West High School teacher's alleged sexual relationship with a student has prompted State Board of Education members to consider removing couches and beanbag chairs from classrooms in upper grades.

While board members aren't likely to issue an all-out ban on soft furniture, it is an option as they ponder what the state can do to prevent student-teacher sexual incidents from occurring. West High history teacher Jose Bernardo Fanjul, 45, is facing 10 felony charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 17-year-old female student. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Fanjul was bound over for trial, and he's scheduled for an arraignment on Monday.

Board members were told police confiscated a couch from Fanjul's classroom to examine for forensic evidence. While Salt Lake City police won't confirm that, it has stuck in the minds of board members.

"Why are there couches in high school rooms?" board member Randall Mackey asked in an interview with the Deseret News.

West High students interviewed said Fanjul had a couch in his classroom along with a small refrigerator full of snacks. Students could lie down on the couch if they didn't feel well or were having a bad day.

The students said many teachers at the school have couches in their classrooms — and it's no big deal.

"Just because a couch is a little more comfortable than those plastic chairs they make us sit on all day, it doesn't trigger something in someone's head to do something inappropriate," said Heather Ranschau, 17, a West High senior. "A couch doesn't mean anything."

Utah State Office of Education attorney Carol Lear agreed that a couch in a classroom doesn't necessarily mean the teacher has ulterior motives.

"Many teachers I know have couches. I've heard enough stories about people having interludes on desks and floors and weight rooms," Lear said. "I don't think a couch makes a difference. It's not about a couch."

Board vice chairman Mark Cluff said the board isn't to the point of proposing a rule on couches in classrooms but will continue discussions.

"It doesn't seem appropriate," Cluff said. "Let's think about it and talk about it."

Board member Richard Moss said if the board does create a rule on furniture, it wouldn't be a blanket policy. Lots of kindergarten rooms have cozy reading areas. "Every situation is different," he said.

Greg Skordas, a Salt Lake criminal defense attorney, said if the board wants to prevent illicit incidents, it should require windows on classroom doors. Forbidding teachers from meeting with students after school hours or without staff nearby also would be a good idea, he said.

"Why invite problems?" said Skordas, a former sex-crimes prosecutor and victim advocate.

Board member Debra Roberts said education leaders and the community need to help prevent situations from arising.

"Watch, be wary, be careful," she said. "We have to keep an eye out. But I don't think you can anticipate that type of evil — and there is no other word for it."

These are troublesome issues, Mackey conceded.

"A number of parents have asked me 'What are you doing about this? How did we let this happen in our schools?"' he said.

"Those are very good questions. And we owe parents an answer."

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E-mail: astewart@desnews.com