By Howard Koplowitz
The department will seek permanent termination for Jermaine Reid, 27, even though he quit his job at the school last month after an inquiry by the department's Office of Special Investigations, a source with the DOE said.Reid is alleged to have had sex with an 18-year-old student of his, according to the department.The Daily News reported that Reid also allegedly had sexual relations with a 16-year-old at August Martin High School where he used to teach. Citing sources, the paper said the 18-year-old alerted investigators to Reid's exploits out of jealousy after he bragged about sleeping with the other student to her in a cell phone conversation. Alicia Maxey, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said the Office of Special Investigations was conducting a probe into allegations that Reid was sexually involved with students at both Richmond High School and August Martin High School.”This behavior is an intolerable abuse of trust and we will take every action to make sure he will never be near our children again,” Maxey said.In a memo to principals Tuesday, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein reiterated his effort to push for legislation that would make it a criminal offense for a teacher to have sex with a student even if the pupil is of the age of consent, which is 16 years and older.”The fact that a student may be more than 16 years of age does not lessen the impropriety of an adult who takes advantage of a position of authority by engaging in sexual activity with a student,” he said in the memo.Klein went on to say that he is looking to add a related piece of state legislation that would require the mandatory dismissal of any employee found to have sexual relations with a student by the department's Special Commissioner of Investigations. Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
