New substitute teacher arrested for alleged battery of 3rd grader

FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI) - A substitute teacher in Frankfort faces a battery charge after an incident in a 3rd grade gym class.  

School officials say the sub bruised a child's shoulder and made derogatory comments to the 3rd grader. 

Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Les Bivens got the call Thursday morning, January 12.  A 3rd grader at Green Meadows Intermediate Elementary School told a counselor he had been assaulted by a substitute gym teacher and had a bruise on his shoulder to prove it.

The teacher, Steven Royer, was arrested on a felony battery charge in only his 4th day on the job.

"Once we found out that the police made an arrest, we made the decision not to have him back," Bivens said.

Police interviewed 21 students and some reported it was more than just physical contact.    

"It was derogatory language," Bivens said.  "'You'll never do anything but work at McDonalds for minimum wage' or something to that effect.

Bivens said Royer had been a volunteer assistant varsity baseball coach for several years and just retired from a job at the water works.  Royer passed an expanded background check to become a substitute.
    
"There's nothing to indicate there were any problems," said Bivens.

Bivens said subs have to attend a one-day informational session with administrators before they start.  But that's all the corporation requires, in addition to the background check.

"It's hard enough to get substitutes as it is," Bivens said.  "We take whoever we can get."

Passing a background check and attending an info session for less than a day may not seem like a lot, but Bivens said it's adequate.

"You're not going to get people to come 2-3 days in for the $60-a-day they get as a substitute," Bivens said.

Bivens said since Royer was only a substitute and not a full-time teacher, it was easy to terminate both his subbing and his coaching with the district, effective immediately.  The corporation did not need to seek approval from the school board or teacher's union.

"He's no longer connected to the school corporation in any way," Bivens said.

NewsChannel 18 called the Royer home Monday evening.  The woman who answered the phone immediately hung up when she found out it was a reporter.