New information was released Friday in the case of a Florida teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.
The Hillsborough County School District said the sex scandal centered on Middleton High School teacher Christina Butler all started as a nasty rumor.
One of the girls allegedly involved in spreading the rumor was suspended from class. The district said the suspension was not a form of punishment. However, now that the rumors have been confirmed as true, the family of the student is asking the district some difficult questions.
At a press conference in Tampa Thursday night, county commissioner Kevin White raised questions about why Butler was not properly investigated.
"Over the past few weeks, our trust in figures of authority has been put to the test, and it has failed miserably," White said.
Butler was arrested early this week and charged with having sex with an underage, special-education student.
Chatavia Kendricks was a student in Butler's class. Kendricks reported Butler's inappropriate behavior to school administrators twice. Kendricks said she was called a liar and was kicked out of school.
"She used to treat the girls unfairly from the boys and she used to cuss at some of the students. She used to let the boys go on the computer and watch inappropriate stuff," Kendricks said.
It was not until Butler's arrest this week that the school acknowledged that an investigation had been held.
Kendricks' mother, Thelma Reeves said she is doubtful any investigation ever took place. Reeves said her daughter was singled out among a group of students who probably knew about Butler's inappropriate relationship.
"She wasn't the only one seeing what was going on, Reeves said.
Steve Hagerty, with the Hillsborough County School District, spoke out Friday about White's press conference.
Hagerty said Kendricks was only suspended from school after the district could not substantiate the rumors about Butler's alleged inappropriate behavior. He said the suspension was pending a conference with Kendricks' parents.
White is calling on Tampa police to work closely with the school district to revise its policies in this kind of situation.