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Milton-Union teacher denies text charges

Teacher charged with inappropriate texting resigns

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By Nancy Bowman, Staff Writer Updated 12:21 PM Thursday, June 4, 2009

TROY— A former Milton-Union schools teacher and coach charged with misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency or unruliness of a minor for alleged inappropriate text messaging to a 17-year-old is denying the allegations and wants a jury trial.

The denial and jury trial request on behalf of Manuel Perez, 42, of Fletcher were filed Thursday, June 4, in Miami County Juvenile Court by lawyer Richard Skelton of Dayton.

With the filing, a June 17 arraignment of Perez has been canceled. A pretrial hearing now is scheduled for July 7.

The charge is being handled in a juvenile court because the court, under state law, has jurisdiction in contributing to the delinquency of a minor cases.

Perez was charged last Friday after the girl’s parents contacted the county Sheriff’s Office about the text messaging.

Authorities reviewed cell phone records and “several hundred” messages, dating back to February, Capt. Dave Duchak said. The messages “were inappropriate for a student-teacher relationship,” he said.

Perez, a language arts teacher in the Milton-Union schools since the 2003-04 school year, resigned Wednesday, Superintendent Ginny Rammel said. The board of education has scheduled a special meeting to accept an employee resignation at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Perez was to begin coaching girls soccer in the fall, Rammel said. He had been on leave from the district since the charge was filed.

Rammel said she could not comment further.

“The safety of our kids is first,” she said.

Before joining the Milton-Union staff, Perez was a boys soccer coach at the Miami East schools.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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I played soccer while this guy was a coach at Miami East, and can tell you that he would often bring up conversations about the female students of the school which were uncalled for from a adult in such a position. I have no doubt that this guy was sending text messages asking for sexual favors.

MEHS Graduate
11:51 PM, 6/5/2009

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I agree that teachers should not be texting the kids. I know the coaches ask for the phone numbers for the sports, I give the coaches my number. I also believe the staff members should not have the kids on their myspace/facebook or any other community account. I know there are teachers at Milton that do that too. The school thinks that keeping the kids cell phones at home is the solution to the problem, maybe who they should be getting serious with is the staff.

MUBULLDOG
6:34 AM, 6/5/2009

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They need to take ACTION NOW!!! Ginny Rammel needs to have a town hall meeting. Have it in the gym and address this problem. Have ALL the Faculty, coaches and workers there. Answer questions from the tax payers and *** this in the bud NOW, or she needs to resign herself!

Sir Blog A Lot
10:41 PM, 6/4/2009

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I live in West Milton and there is no way I would send my kids to the local school; I have heard enough from friends and neighbors with kids in MU. Many of my friends have chosen to homeschool after seeing just how easy it is, and what a better education their children can receive. Sweeping under the rug? That's just insane. Gee, let's protect our image rather than protecting the kids. Lovely.

Homeschooling 3
9:44 PM, 6/4/2009

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Well to address sir blog alot, AGREED
Milton Union needs help. It needs to start at the board and then the adminstration and I am not talking about the principals. And yes two teachers were removed from there class rooms last week during the middle of class. Rumors are going around but the district has not said a thing. The need to let the community know, but that is Milton for you sweep it under the rug..

mu parent
8:26 PM, 6/4/2009

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