KNOXVILLE - Two administrators at a Knoxville high school will return to work after being suspended as part of a school district's investigation into whether the officials immediately reported child sexual abuse accusations levied against the wife of a former assistant football coach.
Principal Tim Berry and Assistant Principal Clark Duncan will resume their roles at South-Doyle High School on May 23, news outlets reported, citing written reprimands provided by a Knox County Schools spokeswoman.
The two men have been on paid administrative leave for three months following an investigation into 26-year-old Kelsey McCarter, who is accused of having had sex with a 14-year-old student for about a year.
The assistant principal notified the principal on Jan. 27 of "compromising photographs" that a teaching assistant's wife shared with a former South-Doyle High School student, according to the reprimands. Berry continued to investigate into the evening of Jan. 27 and didn't report the allegations to the Department of Child Services until the next day, county school officials said.
"You did indeed fail to make a report in a timely manner," Superintendent Jim McIntyre wrote in Berry's reprimand.
Prior to returning, Berry will be on unpaid leave for two weeks, while Duncan will be on unpaid leave for three days.
The Knox County district attorney general and the Knox County Sheriff's Office have already said neither administrator is being charged with a crime.
McCarter faces multiple charges, including six counts of statutory rape by an authority figure. Her attorney declined to comment during a hearing last week.
Her husband, Justin McCarter, resigned as an instructional aide and coach in February. He has not been charged with any crimes.