Investigation reveals recommendations for Lago Vista ISD after vetting failure

LAGO VISTA, Texas (KXAN) — A new report has more than a dozen recommendations for the Lago Vista Independent School District after an investigation into why a community member, who was posing as a "private coach" wasn't properly vetted.

In the report, an investigator recommends that the school create new volunteer and background checking protocols, conduct new staff training for everyone in the district over volunteers for the school, and institute new punishments for those who authorize unvetted individuals to interact with students, including possible firing.

In February, the district announced an investigation after it learned that a community member was acting as a "private coach" for some high school male athletes practicing independently over the summer.

The district said in an email the coach obtained numerous student phone numbers, began communicating and meeting with them, and was present during student practices before and after school and over the summer.

The person wasn't affiliated with the school district and was restricted from all campus grounds, the district previously said.

The district made multiple changes after the discovery, including altering the app its athletics team uses to communicate and barring volunteer coaches.

In the report's conclusion, the investigator said they "firmly believe that the students, parents, staff, and community will move forward and work together to use these recent concerns to build a better, safer educational and extracurricular experience for all students."