KSJD Local Newscast - August 22, 2024

Montezuma-Cortez School Superintendent Tom Burris faces a misdemeanor charge for allegedly failing to report possible child sexual abuse. Burris is scheduled to be arraigned in Montezuma County Court on September 25 on a charge of failure to report by mandatory reporter, a Class 2 misdemeanor. According to the incident report by the Cortez Police Department, Burris was recorded in a phone conversation with the school district’s human resources director. In the recording, he reportedly stated that the parent of one student told him of an inappropriate relationship between the student and a teacher who was later dismissed. Burris reportedly said he told this to the school board in an executive session. He reportedly also stated in the recording that the parent made him swear not to say anything. However, Colorado law requires certain professionals to report any possible child abuse or neglect to law enforcement. Such persons, known as mandatory reporters, include public or private school officials or employees. According to the incident report, police spoke with the student’s parents on July 22. The mother said she didn’t believe her child had had sex with the teacher but that their relationship had gotten out of hand. Police spoke with Burris at the police department on August 7 but he reportedly stopped the interview in order to speak with the school attorney, then said the interview was over and left. Neither Burris nor school-board President Sheri Noyes could be reached for comment by press time. The high school was evacuated and dismissed early on Thursday afternoon because of a gas smell.