In light of the recent allegations and the arrest of a Selma High School teacher who was allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with two students, the Selma City School Board responded at Tuesday’s work session with a call for a full investigation of the entire school system, top to bottom.

“As we all are aware, people everywhere are making allegations that the current situation is just the tip of the iceberg,” school board president Henry Hicks Sr. told his fellow board members, referencing the recent arrest of Selma High health teacher LaTanglia Williams. “As a board, we have the responsibility and authority to investigate all allegations of inappropriate behavior by staff members.”

Hicks read a statement to the board, asking for the board’s unanimous support in his call for a full investigation of all allegations, “especially those that go beyond the current investigation being done by the district attorney and the police department.”

“It is important that we do everything possible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children left in our care by their parents,” Hicks said. “In addition to that, as a board we have to ensure that every allegation that involves things of this serious nature is dealt with swiftly and firmly.”

Hicks asked Selma City Schools Superintendent Gerald Shirley to add the recommendation for the full investigation to the agenda for next Thursday’s regular school board meeting.

Several board members commended Hicks on his call for action.

“We need to do something quickly, before it gets out of our hands,” board member Dr. Kirit Chapatwala said.

Others asked for Hicks to include and identify the entity that will be conducting the investigation as well as the manner and procedure in which the investigation will be done.

Hicks agreed and said he planned to discuss those issues with Shirley, before the board’s next meeting.