(WOWT) - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. OMAHA, Neb. 2005 - Dr. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn High School 2006 - Fred Ritter, Columbus High School 2007 - Sharon Hoffman, Bayard Public Schools 2008 - Byron Braasch, Lewis & Clark Middle School 2009 - Stan Johnson, Shickley Public Schools 2010 - Dave Klein, Kearney Public Schools 2011 - Cheri Helmer-Riensche, Papillion-La Vista South High School A spokeswoman with Elkhorn Public Schools confirmed Wednesday that ESHS summer band activities had resumed under the direction of Brian Nelsen, recently named the high schools new band director. sounds good synonympapa smurf tattoo. Michelle Bluford, 55, accused of inappropriate contact and sexually abuse of a former student over a three-year period Previously was employed with Elkhorn Schools for about 20 years.. Shawn has a keen sense and ability for being able to identify what will help students feel successful in jazz improvisation immediately. You can cancel at any time. Incidents happened both on and off school grounds over the course of a couple of years. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says Elkhorn South High School Band Director Dr. Michelle Bluford was taken into custody Monday evening without incident for one count of Felony Child Abuse in an investigation that is ongoing. Kara Perchal, a spokeswoman for the school district, declined to comment on the allegations raised in court Wednesday but later provided a statement about what the district is doing. His affability puts students at ease allowing them to progress and work through insecurities. OMAHA, Neb. Elkhorn Public Schools is aware of the issuance of an arrest warrant for Michelle Bluford, and we continue to cooperate with the Douglas County Sheriffs office in their investigation. A preliminary hearing for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, is scheduled for Aug. 27. Email Address:. The vote came down at a special meeting on Monday afternoon. Zadzwo do nas: 600-88-46-13 | email:would a diamond pickaxe work in real life Send an Email. Her bands and students have performed at the regional, state and national levels. The board also approved the resignation of another band director from Elkhorn South, Lindsey Bogatz. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. OMAHA, Neb. The relationship consisted of predatory grooming behavior which lead to sexual contact. Dr. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn South High School. According to the release, Michelle Bluford initiated and nurtured an inappropriate relationship with a former student over a period of approximately three years.. Omaha, NE - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. There was a problem saving your notification. Copyright 2021 WOWT. (Beth Macdonald/Unsplash) (OMAHA, Neb.) Phone: 402-444-1068. The vote was 5-0 with one absent. Officials say Bluford was arrested around 7 p.m. Monday on the warrant charging her with felony child abuse. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. Details revealed in court Wednesday alleged Dr. Michelle Bluford manipulated the student,. OMAHA, Neb. She was booked around 7 p.m. on Monday. (WOWT) - An Elkhorn South High School band director is facing a felony child abuse charge stemming from a complaint spanning two years. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says an arrest warrant was issued Monday for 55-year-old Michelle Bluford, director of the Elkhorn South High School band who has been employed by the. Kjelstrup told the judge Bluford would take the victim to her car for cuddling sessions. That charge could include endangering the life of a child; depriving them of necessities; placing the child in a situation that could lead to sexual exploitation; or forcing the child to engage in prostitution, indecency, pornography, or another situation allowing for sexual abuse. All rights reserved. A Douglas County judge has signed an arrest warrant for Michelle Bluford, a music teacher with the Elkhorn Public School District. Bluford is accused of sexually abusing a student who has since graduated. The victim said she would pretend to be asleep and the defendant would rub her hands over the victims clothed body including the victims vagina and her breasts.. He brings fresh ways of delivering concepts and meets students where they are. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An anti-hate activities policy is unanimously approved by the Westside school board, following reports of racial slurs being hurled at Black basketball players in other local schools. Follow her on Twitter @aliaconleyOWH. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office had issued a warrant for her arrest Friday, according to court documents.. Copyright 2021 WOWT. (WOWT) - An Elkhorn South High School band director is facing a felony child abuse charge stemming from a complaint spanning two years. The vote was 5-0 with one absent. Phone: (308) 446-2244. The warrant lists a charge of intentional child abuse with no injury, a Class 3A felony. Matthew Knipe, Blufords attorney said she has long-standing ties to the community. (WOWT) - A former Elkhorn South High School band director was scheduled to appear in court Friday but will not make an appearance until January after the arraignment was. At one point, Kjelstrup said, Bluford made the girl sign up for an app that would allow Bluford to track the girls location. She also taught for six years at Omaha Benson and Ponca Public School, according to her bio on that site, and has also served as president of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. (WOWT) - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. Litchfield Band Director. They referred to this a quiet time, judge. Bluford is accused of intentional child abuse with no injury, a Class 3A felony, for a possible inappropriate relationship with a student. Father, son charged with animal cruelty after hundreds of dead and dying cattle found on Lincoln County property, Mullen basketball tournament honors late coaches, Bridge of hope Advocacy Center raises over $15,000 in their event, NPIce closes early due to mechanical issues. According to court documents, during the students junior year, Bluford allegedly manipulated the student into believing their family did not care for them. In an effort to prevent future instances of similar occurrences, EPS is reviewing our policies and protocols surrounding professional boundaries, Perchal wrote. Send an Email. OMAHA, Neb. The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation recognized our Elkhorn South High School scholarship winners at our Scholarship Recognition Ceremony on April 28th, 2021. . Is her trial still in process? One board member, Nancy Rogic-Greufe, was absent during the vote. The girl told authorities that Bluford touched her inner legs, vagina and breasts during these interactions. Bluford also required the girl to hug her at the beginning and end of each school day, the prosecutor said. Parks said they are conducting an internal review of their policies and protocols surrounding professional boundaries and will be providing training for all staff. Copyright 2021 WOWT. EPS Administration Building Staff District Staff Building Facilities Personnel Student Services Maintenance Teacher Training Conference Center Staff READ MORE: Elkhorn South band director arrested on felony child abuse charge. OMAHA, Neb. She can be released if she posts 10% of that amount, or $7,500. District Staff | Elkhorn Public Schools District Staff Below are the campus buildings that house District Staff with the departments listed under each building. The complaint filed by Deputy County Attorney Molly Keane on Thursday alleges a minor child was put into an exploitive situation in the span of two years, from June 26, 2017-2019. (WOWT) - A former Elkhorn South High School band director was scheduled to appear in court Friday but will not make an appearance until January after the arraignment was rescheduled. Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox. According to court documents, 55-year-old Michelle Bluford was originally charged with child abuse. The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. At some point, the victim came over to the defendant's apartment and saw numerous photos of the victim, including a large photo of the victim displayed at the defendant's apartment, Kjelstrup said. After an investigation by the Sherriff's Office, it was established that Dr. Michelle Bluford had started an inappropriate relationship with a former student that lasted about three years, said the. According to court documents, during the students junior year, Bluford allegedly manipulated the student into believing their family did not care for them. 2005 - Dr. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn High School 2006 - Fred Ritter, Columbus High School 2007 - Sharon Hoffman, Bayard Public Schools 2008 - Byron Braasch, Lewis & Clark Middle School 2009 - Stan Johnson, Shickley Public Schools 2010 - Dave Klein, Kearney Public Schools 2011 - Cheri Helmer-Riensche, Papillion-La Vista South High School A preliminary hearing for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, is scheduled for Aug. 27. OMAHA, Neb. Douglas County Sheriff's Office (NE) announce the arrest of Elkhorn South High School Band Director Dr. Michelle Bluford, 55, in connection with an inappropriate relationship with a student for three years. An investigation was conducted by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, which established Michelle Bluford, the Elkhorn South Band Director, initiated and nurtured an inappropriate relationship with a former student over a period of approximately three years. 22 9 comments Best Add a Comment The Sheriff's Office says Elkhorn Public Schools have been fully cooperative during the investigation. Bluford has been a director of instrumental music at Elkhorn South, Omaha Benson High School and the Ponca Public School, according to an online biography. According to her biography on the Music for All website, where Bluford is listed as a summer symposium faculty member, before teaching in Elkhorn she spent six years at Ponca Public Schools and six years at Benson High School. You will receive an email with additional instructions. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. OMAHA, Neb. All rights reserved. At this time, this remains an ongoing personnel matter. Bluford began to isolate the student, sometimes taking the student off school grounds, texting the student, and having the student sign on to an app so they could be tracked, court documents state. The board voted to approve the resignation also without any questions or comments. But it provides a general description of Class 3A felony abuse. In addition to lessons, Shawn is available for clinics, masterclasses, and other small and large ensemble coaching by appointment. On Monday, Omaha authorities issued an arrest warrant following an investigation into an inappropriate relationship between an Elkhorn South High School band teacher and student, KETV Omaha reported. alia.conley@owh.com, 402-444-1068, twitter.com/aliaconleyOWH. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Elkhorn South band director Michelle Bluford made her first appearance in court Wednesday. The judge set Blufords bond at $75,000. At that time, the school district and DCSO said they could not share further details until the investigation had concluded. Further into the release, DCSO states, the relationship consisted of predatory grooming behaviors which eventually lead to inappropriate sexual contact with the former student by Dr. Bluford. Officials say no more details will be released to the public until the investigation is complete and the Elkhorn Public School admission has been fully cooperative. A spokeswoman with Elkhorn Public Schools confirmed Wednesday that ESHS summer band activities had resumed under the direction of Brian Nelsen, recently named the high schools new band director. His laid back demeanor, however, does not diminish his level of focus and attention to detail with fundamentals. Blufords attorney, Matt Knipe, said Bluford has no criminal history and many ties to the community because of her two decades of employment with the Elkhorn Public Schools. Elkhorn South band director's contract terminated, another teacher resigns. I don't know why it just popped into my head to ask now, but just curious if anyone knows the outcome. The girl had reported her allegations of abuse to someone this summer, and the allegations then were brought to authorities. Previous reports from the Douglas County Sheriffs Office revealed that Michelle Bluford initiated and nurtured an inappropriate relationship with a former student over a period of approximately three years. The DCSO release came back in July when Bluford was booked for her arrest warrant. Sheriffs office investigating death of Hall county woman, False reports of school shootings all over Nebraska and the country, University of Nebraska Kearney students make valuable connections at Career and Internship Fair, UNK history professor uncovers Willa Cathers connections to campus, Kearney community, Next University of Nebraska Kearney Science Caf focuses on clinical trials in rural Nebraska, publicfile@ksnblocal4.com - (402) 467-4321. According to court documents, during the students junior year, Bluford allegedly manipulated the student into believing their family did not care for them. Bluford began to isolate the student, sometimes taking the student off school grounds, texting the student, and having the student sign on to an app so they could be tracked, court documents state. Director bands Elkhorn High School, since 2000. Former Elkhorn South band director accused of child abuse bonds out of jail. "I try to learn about my students and find stories that relate to them." Sekle was nominated by Dean Hohn, a chemical engineering major. South Sioux City Band Director. All rights reserved. Bluford is accused of intentional child abuse with no injury, a Class 3A felony, for a possible inappropriate relationship with a student. Bluford also allegedly had the victim sit on her lap at school and rock them three times a week, calling this their quiet time. Later, Bluford also allegedly took the victim to her car for cuddles in an effort to get the student to fall asleep; and would rub her hands over the students body, including private areas, documents show.