Malden School Officials, Police Investigating Report of 'Sexting' Incident

Malden Public School officials and police are investigating a report of a "sexting" incident involving students from Linden S.T.E.A.M. Academy.

School officials first learned of the alleged sexting incident Thursday morning, according to Superintendent David DeRuosi. Principal Richard Bransfield called the DeRuosi and "we put a full-blown investigation on it," said the superintendent.

"The situation is simple: We had an eighth grade girl that (allegedly) took some inappropriate pictures and texted them over to a couple boys in the seventh grade and from there...it spreads to different people, different phones and we caught wind of it," DeRuosi said. "We brought the girl's mother in and the administrators dealt with her, got names and we brought in the parents of the boys that got the original (photos).

"Principal Richard Bransfield did a great job. He met with parents, he met with the kids and he did a very thorough investigation...and we asked the kids involved to stay home until we finish the investigation."

Three students allegedly involved in the sexting incident will return to school on Monday, according to DeRuosi. 

As to why the students were asked to stay home, DeRuosi said "We're trying to keep it safe for everybody and it really wasn't a healthy situation to have them back in while we did this."

The superintendent said the investigation has been turned over to the police. Police Chief Kevin Molis confirmed that they are investigating the incident, but declined to comment on the investigation except to say "we have a very collaborative, cooperative investigation going on."

It's currently unclear if any of the students allegedly involved in the incident will face disciplinary action.

DeRuosi explained how things have gone working with the parties involved.

"It's painful for the parents involved," he said. "The parents have been great and cooperated with us, and our goal now is to step back as a district and wrap our minds around this and really how you make this a teachable moment so that you educate kids that this isn't appropriate behavior for many reasons. 

"Number two: You want to maintain that safe environment where if a child was to receive a photo like this...that they feel comfortable enough and safe enough to go to an adult and say 'Listen, I got this (photo) and I didn't ask for this. I know it's wrong, here it is, help me out with it' and that's the tricky part with this stuff."

According to DeRuosi, the photos were disseminated solely through cell phones.

During his tenure as superintendent, DeRuosi said that this is the first time he has dealt with a sexting-type investigation.

"I always felt lucky that we managed to stay off the radar on one of these (cases) and this is really the first to my knowledge," he said. "It's unfortunate, but it's a growing trend and I think it's a combination of a serious lack of understanding. These are young kids with technology that I never had and it's in the hands of young kids that still make bad choices.

"Our job is to really begin to find ways to keep pace with technology but keep it safe and educate kids that this is real serious...and that this is pornography and you shouldn't be passing it around, you shouldn't be taking the photos and you shouldn't be sharing them."

DeRuosi said this incident will be discussed during the Nov. 18 School Committee session, when Cambridge Health Alliance presents data from last year's Youth Risk Behavior Survey taken by the majority of 6-8 grade students at the middle school. The surveys were regularly taken by students at different schools in the district until about 2006-2007, when funding for the initiative ended, according to the superintendent. However, the program returned last year, as it was funded through the district's appropriations budget, he added.

On the subject of the sexting incident, DeRuosi said "I see this as just another risky behavior for our youth so it's a great segue in to bring it all together under the idea that this is all risky behavior.

"It's a good moment to speak to this and I will during the School Committee meeting."

This incident was first reported by My Fox Boston.