Teacher charged with recording student in bathroom put on GPS monitoring

A Bellingham middle school teacher charged with secretly recording a student in a bathroom appeared in court Monday.

Scott McDonald, 38, a teacher and baseball coach at Bellingham Memorial Middle School was arraigned on felony charges for possessing illicit images of a minor. He was placed on paid administrative leave on Nov. 9 after the student reported the incident

Police say a 14-year-old boy told a school resource officer earlier this month that when McDonald told him he could use the faculty bathroom, the boy found a box with a hole and a cellphone recording inside.

Bellingham teacher accused of recording student in bathroom placed on leave Bellingham teacher accused of recording student in bathroom placed on leave

Bellingham Superintendent of Schools Peter Marano said McDonald was immediately removed from the classroom once the allegation was made.

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"As an educator and a parent I am absolutely appalled anytime a teacher violates the awesome trust and responsibility given to teachers by the parents of the children placed in our care on a daily basis," Marano said in a statement. "We will not tolerate any behavior by any member of the staff or faculty of our school district that violates that trust.

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McDonald was released on $1,000 bail and will be staying with family while the case is pending. He has been ordered to be on GPS monitoring.

A meeting for parents and students is set for Monday night.

Cox Media Group