Lehighton Area School District is considering hiring an outside special counsel after Board President Joy Beers said constituents raised complaints about potential criminal activity having not been properly examined by the district.

No potential cost was discussed Monday, but Beers referenced a previous situation in which an outside professional was hired to look into a student complaint. She said the goal now would be to explore bringing in a similar group to examine certain issues brought to the board’s attention.

“I think that how it would manifest would be that at the next voting meeting, we will try to find a group or an individual that does this type of work,” Beers said. “I’m just gauging the demeanor of the board at this point.”

The reaction from fellow board members varied, though several expressed support for pursuing the proposal.

“I think we have a duty to investigate these complaints,” director Duane Dellecker said. “I’m in favor.”

Others expressed caution. Barbara Bowes questioned what kind of investigation could be done and what topics would be included.

“It would have to be discussed in executive session, but it would depend on what is being asked for to be investigated,” she said.

Beers replied, “If we agree as a board (to hire) this special investigator, then yes, in executive session, which is allowable, because it would be a legal matter, we would as a board choose what the topics would be.”

Still, not all members were fully convinced of the merits.

“I think this could go down a slippery slope,” Bowes said. “I would have to think about it, and I’d have to know the cost.”

Concerns were also raised about the seriousness of the complaints and whether law enforcement should be involved if the issues were criminal in nature.

“Are these seriously important things?” director Kerry Sittler asked. “If they were that serious, we would have the police investigate.”

Beers countered with an example of past hazing accusations involving middle school football.

Parents of four Lehighton Area School District students filed a lawsuit in Carbon County Court in 2022 alleging the students were sodomized while left unsupervised before a 2019 Lehighton Area Middle School football practice.

According to the complaint, three 14-year-old male students and a 15-year-old male student “suffered harm due to ongoing physical and sexual assaults, and a sexually hostile and physically violent environment at Lehighton Area Middle School,” which the parents allege two coaches “failed to correct” despite having knowledge of the culture.

The civil matter is still pending, according to Carbon County Court records.

“Let’s use the hazing situation as an example,” Beers said Monday night. “Is it appropriate that parents in the district need to use their own money to sue the district and force an investigation that maybe should have been (handled internally)?”

Beers maintained that the district has a duty to take responsibility.

“I think the district has a responsibility to look into issues,” she said.

Bowes agreed but noted the importance of context.

“I’m not saying that they shouldn’t, but sometimes it depends on what the complaint is, and who’s doing the complaining,” she said. “If it’s a group of people, that’s one thing. But if it’s one parent, and that’s the only parent that has an issue, I’d have to think about it a lot more.”

Beers said she had previously spoken to board member Sean Gleaves, who expressed his support.

“He’s in favor of it, and he made the comment that he feels it’ll save money in the long term by eliminating future abuses,” Beers said.

Beers concluded the discussion by indicating that there was enough preliminary support to move forward.

“I think that we have at least the majority to move forward with this concept,” she said.