Abington School District
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Updated – September 20, 2024
A former resource officer is facing multiple allegations of sex crimes against students in the Abington School District. Jordan Jones—initially charged with sexually assaulting a female student in February 2024—has been accused by a second victim.
On September 10, Glenside Local reported findings from a court report:
“The second victim filing charges against Jones for institutional sexual assault in connection with alleged incidents that occurred during the 2022-23 school year when she was between the ages of 18 and 19. Jones allegedly told the female student ‘he wanted her to cook for him in his kitchen while she was naked’ and explained ‘what sexual acts he wanted to perform with her.’”
The Local referenced a community announcement by Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Fecher acknowledging accusations against Jones while the survivors were enrolled at Abington Senior High School. The list of charges, according to Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy, includes Institutional Sexual Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Corruption of Minors.
Jones, who was hired by Abington School District in 2021, was stripped of his badge and weapons. The district reportedly placed him on administrative leave with the intent to terminate his employment.
As of publication, Jones is free on a $50,000 bond with a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 19. He could spend a maximum of seven years in federal prison if convicted.
The School Board Watchlist will update this story as more information becomes available.
Additional incidents of violence were reported in April following several physical altercations on school grounds.
Fox 29 News said, “Abington Senior High School was the scene of two fights, in which one student was injured, a lockdown and administrators calling the police. Three students now face charges due to the altercation…Five students were said to have been involved in two separate fights in two different parts of the school building.”
The report also said one student was armed with a knife but had discarded the weapon before the fights broke out. Three suspects were arrested and two were charged with aggravated assault. At the time Dr. Fecher informed the public of the incidents, but Fox did not say what measure he was taking to squelch the violence.
Student brawls reported in September 2023 were suspected to have played a role in the death of an Abington high school student. Several weeks after eight students were arrested and charged with rioting, the victim was shot in the head near the campus.
The School Board Watchlist will continue monitoring issues in the Abington School District. Please send tips and information to [email protected].
Updated – March 13, 2023
Abington School District’s “Gender Expansive and Transgender (GET) Students” policy reveals the district will keep a student’s gender identity a secret from their parents:
“School personnel should not disclose information about a GET student’s gender identity and expression to others, including the student’s parents/guardians and/or other school personnel, unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure.”
The district writes, “Students have the right to be addressed by the name and pronoun that corresponds to their consistently asserted gender identity.” They add:
“A court-ordered name or gender change is not required, and the student need not otherwise change his or her official records or obtain parent/legal guardian permission in order to be addressed by the name and pronoun that corresponds to the student’s consistently asserted gender identity.”
The policy further allows transgender students the right to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their chosen gender identity.
The district also has an “Equitable Practices” policy that was “formulated under authority of the Board of School Directors to provide equitable access and outcomes to the students in the Abington School District.”
The document says the district will use “an equity lens and quantitative and qualitative data to assess systematically which students and/or student groups are experiencing the least growth and achievement, determine why, and target resources and efforts to address identified needs and improve overall outcomes.”
The plan also provides for a District Equity Advisory Committee and an Equity Team in every school building, as well as a District Equity Officer. Additionally, staff will be trained on “culturally responsive practices, implicit bias, explicit bias, diversity and inclusion.”
Published – September 27, 2022
During a January 2020 board meeting, members were debating whether school resource officers should be armed or not. Board member Dr. Tamar Klaiman stated:
“There’s a lot of evidence that anybody carrying a firearm in a district building puts kids at risk, particularly students of color. We know that the black and brown students are much more likely to be shot by the officer, especially school resource officers, than other students.”
Later on in the discussion, she added:
“Police officers also shoot people pretty regularly.”
Dr. Klaiman faced significant backlash for her anti-police comments and a petition calling for her resignation garnered over 2,100 signatures online. At the next board meeting, Klaiman apologized for her ‘divisive and inflammatory’ comments and said that she supported the Abington Police Department. However, she added that “Abington is not immune to circumstances outside our community that affect people who live and attend school here.”
Abington School District has 8,359 students enrolled across nine schools.
