School district employee resigns after 'inappropriate' material found on computer
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

" ...His choices, while not illegal, are clearly in violation of acceptable use policies, and not in the best interest of students or the school district." - Superintendent Dr. Bill James

Cherokee County School District courier David Parris resigned from his position Wednesday after pictures termed inappropriate and suggestive by Superintendent Dr. Bill James were found saved to a computer at Cherokee Technology Center.

A teacher notified Cherokee Technology Center Director Dr. Harold Talley on Feb. 1 that inappropriate pictures were on a school computer. District officials directed information management director Tradd Robinson to retrieve the computer from the school.

Sources have identified the employee as Parris. He was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the district's investigation into how the computer was being used.

Parris was a part-time bus driver and ran the district's print shop for many years. He was a longtime assistant softball coach at Gaffney High.

Without knowing the computer's contents, James said he contacted Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton for advice. Blanton advised district officials to proceed with opening the computer and to contact the sheriff if there was any evidence of illegal material.

An investigation by the school district found the computer at Cherokee Technology Center had bypassed an Internet filtering system and accessed inappropriate sites, James said Thursday. The computer files were opened in the presence of two district officials.

"A large number of inappropriate pictures had been saved to the computer," James said. "In addition, an exceptional quantity of files that had been accessed from 'My Space' or similar Web sites were found.

"While the 'My Space' photographs were not considered illegal, they were highly inappropriate," James said. "The district investigation determined that images had been saved over a period of two to three years. Also, on at least two occasions, computer override codes were shared with students."

The information was shared in a closed session with the school board at Tuesday's meeting. School board members were allowed to view the materials.

"This incident is highly regrettable as the employee has worked with the district for over 25 years. However, his choices, while not illegal, are clearly in violation of acceptable use policies, and not in the best interest of students or the school district," James said. "Given the nature of the photographs, the number of photographs, the time spent collecting photographs, and the gravity of the situation, I supported and accepted his resignation."