A teacher at Oak Park High School has been fired following a report of “inappropriate communication” with a former student.
In a statement released to 41 Action News on Tuesday, the North Kansas City School District indicated that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
A district official told 41 Action News Adam Farley, the band director, was fired.
On Tuesday, news of the firing spread quickly across the Oak Park community.
Many were shocked at the news and described Farley as an outgoing music teacher who often greeted students in the hallway.
"I don't want to believe it because I don't think he would ever do anything like that," explained Casey Newton, who graduated from Oak Park in 2014. "(He was) nice, friendly, helping anybody who needs help. Always smiling and always nice."
Newton said the firing was even tougher to believe since Farley was the one connected to the "inappropriate communication."
"It's so shocking," she said. "You hear it all the time around the world but you never think Oak Park."
Others around the community offered brief reactions to the firing.
In a statement, the Oak Park Band Parent Association said:
"We are unable to respond at this time. We hold our band director in high regard and feel that he is due his privacy. Please respect our parents and kids as we process this information."
The district's statement did not indicate the relationship between the teacher and the former student. The statement also did not provide a timeline or where the incident occurred.
“Due to the nature of the allegations, the district is unable to provide specific information about its role in the investigation.”
The KCMO Police Department said Farley does not have a previous criminal record and is not facing any changes in relation to the case.
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