Las Vegas NowSchool District Responds to Arrests of Two Employees

School District Responds to Arrests of Two Employees

The Clark County School District is responding to the news that two employees -- a teacher and a teacher's aid -- have been arrested for inappropriate behavior with minors. In both of these cases the child came forward telling the parents what happened.

Today those school district employees are in police custody away from their schools and away from children. The school district is trying to figure out how best they can prevent this from happening again.

Dr. George Ann Rice, with the school district, said, "It is surprising and it is dismaying when any of this happens regardless if its one or whatever time of the year it is."

Surprising and coincidental that Kesterson Elementary fifth grade teacher Mark Zana now faces 4 counts of lewdness against a minor and 10 counts of possession of child pornography. While at the same time Ruben Valle, a teacher's assistant at a special education school in valley now faces 4 counts of lewdness against a minor.

Dr. Rice says even their extensive background checks couldn't see this coming. "I just wish there were a morals detector through which all of us would pass, but until there is such a thing, I'm not sure."

Ruben Valle is accused of molesting an 8-year-old girl on Sept. 25th.

According to the police report, a video shows Valle leaning his face into the victim's chest and after several minutes, and while the victim is still sitting on his lap, Valle gives the victim another hug and taps her buttocks.

In response to seeing the video Valle stated in the police report that he was attracted to the girl and the reason he was touching her was for pleasure, and that he enjoyed the feel of her skin.

In light of these allegations Dr. Rice says the school district will have to keep trying to make their background checks more rigorous. "We need to constantly, which we do, re-examine our procedures. Is there another question that we can ask, is there another source that we could seek out, is there something else that we could do."

Henderson police have already released Mark Zana picture to the public. They believe there may be more victims.

Metro police, however, may be waiting to release Ruben Valle's picture to give potential victims a chance to identify Valle without any outside influences.

If you are a parent and believe your child has been a victim of either Valle or Zana, police ask that you call them immediately.

Contact Reporter Ashanti Blaize