11 students part of probe

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

The investigation into whether an outside photographer "inappropriately touched" students while taking pictures at a Henderson elementary school has expanded to 11 children, school police said this morning.

A student at David Cox Elementary School told her mother she was inappropriately touched by a photographer from America's School Portraits during a fund-raiser at the Henderson campus Friday, Clark County School District officials said. Since then nine other girls and one boy have come forward with similar reports, said Darnell Couthen, spokesman for the school district police.

Calls to America's School Portraits were not returned. A voice-mail system operating Tuesday appeared to have been shut off this morning, with a recorded message asking callers to try again later.

As of this morning school police investigators were still waiting to interview the photographers. Investigators are also looking into whether the company was properly licensed to do business in Nevada. They also are checking the backgrounds of individual employees, Couthen said.

Couthen said Henderson Police are assisting with the investigation into whether a felony was committed -- lewdness with a child under 14.

Photo sittings have become common fund-raisers for Clark County schools and have expanded from annual class pictures to include special sittings for entire families after regular school hours.

Cox Principal David Price said Tuesday as many as 30 students, two teachers and six parent volunteers were present in the school's music room Friday during the photo shoot.

Lisa Robinson, president of Cox PTA, said today that the photography firm was selected by the school's liasion committee and staff and not her organization. In an interview with the Sun on Tuesday, the father of an alleged victim had said the company was endorsed by the PTA. That statement was untrue, Robinson said.

America's School Portraits, formerly known as Compos Photography, had a contract for a school yearbook as well as individual sittings for students and staff at Kesterson Elementary School in Henderson last year, said Edward Goldman, superintendent of the district's southeast region.

There were no reports of any misconduct by photographers but the firm's contract was not renewed because of mistakes, missed deadlines and parent dissatisfaction with the quality of their children's photographs, Goldman said.

Jack Schlichting, who manages operations in Southern Nevada for the national school portrait studio chain LifeTouch, said he was dismayed by the allegations. His company does school portrait work and he has a son who attends Cox.

"It's a matter of concern regardless of the industry involved," Schlichting said.

Because each school brokers its own deal with photography firms, district officials say they warn administrators to seek competitive bids, verify business licenses and provide security measures when allowing vendors on campus.