Franklin accepts resignation of teacher accused of sex with student

Her two-sentence resignation letter said she was resigning for personal and professional reasons.

The first-year high school social studies teacher was receiving an annual salary of $40,019, according to district records.

School board members declined comment after the vote.

INITIAL REPORT: The Franklin Board of Education will consider tonight the resignation of a Franklin High School teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student.

The board meeting starts at 6 p.m. today, April 9, at the Hampton Bennett Building, 150 E. Sixth St., in Franklin.

Madalyn Arnett, 25, of West Carrollton, has waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Franklin Municipal Court on the charge of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. Her case has been bound over to a Warren County grand jury for further consideration and possible indictment.

Here’s everything to know about the case so far:

1. Arnett is a first-year teacher at Franklin High School

Arnett was hired as a teacher last August. According to state records, Arnett was issued a teaching license to instruct social studies for grades 7 to 12 in May 2017. Prior to that, she was issued a short-term substitute teaching license for general education.

2. Arnett’s resignation would be effective April 20

Superintendent Michael Sander said Arnett submitted her resignation on April 5.

He said the district was already beginning the process to fire her, but the resignation ends that process.

A resignation will allow her to exhaust all of her accrued leave time.

If approved tonight, Arnett’s resignation would be effective April 20, according to Sander.

3. District placed her on leave when confronted

Arnett was placed on paid administrative leave March 27, which was the day after district officials learned about alleged improper electronic communications between her and the student.

Arnett admitted to sexting with a student when she was confronted by district officials and was escorted off school property, according to court records.

District officials then contacted Franklin police, who turned the investigation over to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office when it was determined the alleged incident occurred outside the city limits.

Arnett was arrested later that evening at her home.

4. Students talked about the alleged activity

Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell told this news outlet that students began talking about some of the activity at school.

Through cell phones, there was evidence of inappropriate communication between the student and Arnett, he said.

5. Alleged offense is more serious than sexting

Fornshell said that the alleged sexual contact happened in a car at a Franklin Twp. parking lot about a week before Arnett was arrested.

He said the sexual battery charge means that there was a sexual encounter between the teacher and student.

This report contains previous reporting by staff writer Lauren Pack.