Tape incident endangering teacher's future

NASHVILLE, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A teacher is facing additional disciplinary action from Metro Nashville Schools for taping several of his students' mouths closed, an official says.

June Keel, Metro Schools assistant superintendent of human resources, said Park Avenue Elementary teacher Kevin Ray made a mistake when he decided to use packaging tape on several of his students as a "joke," The (Nashville) Tennessean said Thursday.

"He intended it as a joke," Keel said of Ray, who reportedly admitted to the Feb. 6 class incident. "It was a severe error in judgment on his part, but it was a one-time thing."

Keel said Ray taped three or four students' mouths after they refused to stop talking. She said the teacher also taped a student to her seat during a test.

Ray has already been placed on paid leave over the incident and Metro Nashville Schools will decide by week's end if he will face additional disciplinary action.

Rich Haglund, the state Board of Education's attorney, told the Tennessean the state board would review Ray's case to determine if he can work in other schools should he be fired by the school board.