Twice in less than two months, area teachers have been accused of inappropriate conduct with students.

First came news that the Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education was aware of claims against a current staff member accused of inappropriate behavior. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, a Pine Valley teacher and coach was charged with charged with third-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. Slisz turned himself in at the Chautauqua County Jail for central arraignment. He is to answer the charges in the Town of Cherry Creek Court.

Both situations – if true – are inexcusable. And, in our opinion, both situations should lead to a greater discussion of both prevention of such incidents or greater punishment for those convicted in such incidents in school districts both locally and around the state.

In New York, teachers need mandatory, fingerprint-supported criminal history background checks via the state Education Department and FBI for state certification and employment. The background check also involves the state Division of Criminal Justice Services checking and reviewing the Sex Offender Registry for student safety. The process is required for all school employees with direct student contact, covering public/private schools, BOCES, and charter schools, and involves submitting fingerprints for clearance before employment, with conditional hiring possible while awaiting results.

That process would indicate that the state is already taking prevention pretty seriously in attempting to prevent schools from bringing those with a known history of sex abuse into contact with children. We’re not sure how much more prevention can be done. That tells us that the state needs to carry a bigger stick to keep those entrusted to teach and interact with students in line, because the loss of one’s career and the criminal charges that already exist on the books aren’t enough of a deterrent for some teachers from pursuing inappropriate relationships with students.

In our opinion, state legislators – ideally led by Assemblyman Andrew Molitor and Sen. George Borrello – should pass legislation with such tough penalties that no teacher will ever consider an inappropriate relationship with students ever again. We have a hard time believing any legislator on either side of the political aisle who has children would oppose such legislation. We have a hard time believing Gov. Kathy Hochul wouldn’t sign such legislation.

We know such legislation wouldn’t be the first thing debated when the state Legislature starts its session in January. But in our view, it should be.