Anne Arundel County school policies don't prohibit teachers from giving students rides home, being friends with their families or wearing bathing suits in front of them.
That testimony was drawn from more than five teachers last night in the seventh session of a hearing to determine whether former Northeast High School teacher Laurie S. Cook will keep her job.
Acquitted last December on a criminal charge that she had sex with a student, Ms. Cook now is contesting four counts of misconduct, including the allegation that she had oral sex with the student, and a recommendation from the superintendent that she be fired.
M. Cristina Gutierrez, Ms. Cook's lawyer, has said that the charges of misconduct against her client are vague. In questioning her defense witnesses, Ms. Gutierrez elicited testimony from at least five teachers that they had given students rides home in the past.
In addition, the defense witnesses attempted to discredit the youth who has accused Ms. Cook.
Bart Rader, head football coach at Northeast, testified that the youth "would tell you anything to serve his own purpose" and failed to turn in his football equipment last year.
Deborah Nelson, a physical education teacher at Northeast, described the youth as "disruptive."
"He was a behavior problem -- a student I had to have next to me or in my direct line of sight," Ms. Nelson testified. "His behavior tended to be somewhat sneaky, and if you weren't looking he would engage in horseplay."
In response to questions from Ms. Gutierrez, Ms. Nelson testified that she knew of no school policies prohibiting teachers from interacting with students or their families outside of school. Ms. Nelson said that "many years ago" she herself once wore a bathing suit in front of a student and the student's family because "they invited me to go out on their boat on several occasions. No, I didn't see anything improper in that."
Ms. Gutierrez said after the session that her questions do not mean Ms. Cook admits any of the accusations made by the superintendent.
"We're not conceding that she [Ms. Cook] ever appeared there in a bathing suit," Ms. Gutierrez said, "but we are troubled by the attack on teachers, suggesting it's inappropriate under any circumstance to drive a student home."
Ms. Cook has said that she visited her accuser's home and became friends with his sister.
"But she was never there to watch television, and she was not there three to four times a week," Ms. Gutierrez said.
The youth's neighbors have testified in earlier sessions of the open personnel hearing that Ms. Cook was frequently at the home. One neighbor, who lives across the street from the youth's family, testified that she had seen Ms. Cook "sunbathing" while the youth washed her car.
The charges against Ms. Cook are based on a school system policy that requires teachers to exhibit professional conduct. Until a few months ago, there was no policy prohibiting teachers from dating students.
Lawyers for Ms. Cook and the superintendent are scheduled to have a telephone conference this morning.