LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Moore County Schools released a public letter on Friday addressing community concerns following the recent arrest of a former Lynchburg Elementary School janitor, emphasizing that the district acted immediately once allegations were brought forward, even as public communication lagged behind internal actions.

“We recognize that while our internal response was immediate, our outward updates did not keep pace with community questions, and that created understandable concern,” Director of Schools Chad Moorehead stated in the letter that was send out to all parents on Friday.

In the letter, Director Moorhead acknowledged frustration within the community about the timing of official updates and accepted responsibility for not issuing a public statement sooner. The employee’s employment with the district ended on January 7, the same day school officials notified law enforcement and an investigation began.

“The employee’s employment with the district ended on January 7,” the letter states. “At that time, a law enforcement investigation was just beginning, and we were legally limited in what we could confirm publicly. The earliest date we could provide a substantive update was January 14, when charges were filed and certain information became part of the public record. As Director of Schools, I take responsibility for not having issued a statement at this time.”

The case involves a former school employee who was later charged with misdemeanor simple assault following an investigation by the Metro Moore County Sheriff’s Office. According to law enforcement records, the investigation stemmed from allegations of inappropriate physical contact with a juvenile student. Charges were filed on January 14, at which point details became part of the public record.”

{Editor’s Note: To read our full coverage of that arrest, click here.}

In his statement, Moorhead explained that while the district’s internal response was immediate — including cooperation with law enforcement and restricting access as appropriate — legal limits on employee and student privacy, as well as the integrity of the ongoing investigation, constrained what could be shared publicly in the early days of the case.

“Sharing any information earlier would have risked interfering with the investigation and could have violated employee and student privacy laws,” Moorhead wrote.

The letter also notes that Moore County Schools is reviewing its notification and communication procedures to ensure clearer and timelier updates in future situations, while still complying with legal requirements. Moorhead emphasized that student and staff safety remains the district’s top priority and asked for community cooperation in avoiding speculation or misinformation, particularly on social media, while investigations are active.

The criminal case is being handled separately by law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office. No additional charges have been announced as of publication. •

About The Lynchburg Times: We’re independent, reader-supported, and proudly homegrown. We hold the history, relationships, and journalistic craft to deliver professional reporting from one of America’s tiniest and most famous towns. Because of that, there are some stories you’ll only read in The Lynchburg Times. Every dollar of reader support stays right here in Moore County, funding local writers, photographers, and storytellers. When you support The Lynchburg Times, you’re not just backing a local newsroom — you’re preserving the art of storytelling in the South. [Join us here.]