Plum School Board Accepts Teacher's Resignation, Fires Another

PLUM (KDKA)- The Plum School Board accepted the resignation of teacher Jason Cooper at a special meeting Monday night.

Coooper, who is accused of having sex with a student, tendered his resignation around the time of his arrest in February.

That came shortly before the arrest of Joseph Ruggieri.

Ruggieri is currently in the Allegheny County Jail, after violating a no-contact order. He's accused of contacting the victim in his sex abuse case repeatedly and his bond was revoked. Ruggieri was arrested on sex assault charges in February. In March, he was arrested on witness intimidation charges. He was arrested again this month for violating the no-contact order.

Last night, the school board voted to terminate Ruggieri's contract.

According to the Post Gazette, Cooper's attorney argues his client didn't break the law because the victim was 18 at the time of the relationship. He has filed a motion to have the charges of institutional sex assault, corruption of a minor and witness intimidation dropped.

The school board plans on hiring two permanent high school teachers to replace Cooper and  Ruggieri.

Cooper teaches science and Ruggieri is an English teacher.

According to the Post Gazette, Plum's school board will hire a long-term substitute teacher to fill the vacancy of science teacher Drew Zoldak. He faces witness intimidation charges for allegedly pointing out the female student in Mr. Ruggieri's case. Zoldak has been suspended without pay.

The Post Gazette also reports that both Cooper and Ruggieri have had their state teaching certificates suspended.

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