VCS music teacher fired for alleged ‘inappropriate conduct with minors’
Leaders at the private Christian K-12 system terminated the employment of Ralph Martin, Conservatory of Music director, on May 4
A longtime award-winning Vacaville Christian Schools music and band teacher has been fired after an investigation into allegations of what school leaders called his “inappropriate conduct with minors,” The Reporter has learned.
The employment of Ralph Martin, who over the years at the Vacaville Christian High was the recipient of a faculty-member-of-the-year award, was terminated May 4, according to a letter sent to VCS families and employees.
The board of directors at the private Christian K-12 school system, with main offices and elementary and a middle school on Davis Street and a high school on Marshall Road, indicated they had learned of the allegations against Martin, director of the schools’ Conservatory of Music, earlier this semester.
School leaders hired “independent attorney-investigators” to carry out a workplace inquiry, during which allegations surfaced about questionable conduct with minors, including allegations of a sexual nature with students, according to wording in the letter.
Martin, a short, darkhaired energetic man who taught music and music composition, was then placed on paid administrative leave while investigators gave him a chance to participate in the investigation, which he did.
Leaders at the school, including board chairwoman Becky Craig, reported “multiple allegations of inappropriate communications of a sexual nature with students occurring over a number of years” to the Vacaville Police Department.
Acting Capt. Chris Polen on Tuesday confirmed VCS leaders contacted the Vacaville Police Department about Martin’s alleged behavior, but noted the allegations were “20plus years old” and could not be substantiated.
And “more recent allegations (as a result of the schools’ investigation) were not criminal in nature” he added.
In their notice to the VCS community, board members characterized the allegations and firing of Martin as “difficult information to hear.’
They urged anyone who has information about Martin’s alleged conduct with minors to contact the Vacaville Police Department or Craig.
And they said because “this situation involves a personnel action,” neither the board nor school leaders, including Head of School Ben Davis, would discuss or comment further on Martin’s firing.
Additionally, VCS leaders indicated they plan to meet with an expert to “evaluate and enhance” the schools’ policies and practices and provide more training for faculty and staff.