Student’s lawyers say school should have stopped affair with teacher

Thursday, March 23, 2000 | 9:49 a.m.

The 17-year-old student's lawyers said Wednesday that district officials allegedly suspected the relationship nearly a year ago but did nothing to stop it.

Washoe County School District officials denied the allegation.

"It's a lie," Superintendent James Hager told the Sparks Tribune on Wednesday.

The English teacher, Diane Flanary, 32, has submitted her resignation but remains on paid emergency leave until April 20.

School district officials say they learned earlier this month that the alleged relationship resulted in the birth of a child.

The Reno law firm Barber, Klearman and Associates released a statement Wednesday leveling the accusation school officials knew what was going on nearly a year ago.

"Evidence in this case will reflect that Sparks High School officials suspected the Ms. Flanary was sexually involved with our client as early as the spring of 1999, yet failed to notify his parents," the statement said.

"High school officials must notify a parent as soon as they have any basis to suspect the existence of a teacher-student relationship."

Hager said Sparks High Principal Tom Owens expressed concern about Flanary "behaving inappropriately towards students," but never heard any reports of a "sexual relationship."