SCHOOL TO HAVE COUNSELORS FOR STUDENTS

JACKSON, Mo. -- Counselors will be available to the students of R.O. Hawkins Junior High School today after a teacher was charged Friday for allegedly having sexual contact with a 13-year-old student.

The girl, now 14, was taken into custody by Cape Girardeau County juvenile authorities after she allegedly buried her stillborn baby in the back yard of her mother's Jackson residence March 14. While investigating, sheriff's detectives reportedly discovered love letters to the girl from a teacher. Investigators say the girl reported she had sexual contact with the math teacher after they asked about who wrote the letters.

Thomas Sprandel, 37, of Fruitland, Mo., remained in the Cape Girardeau County Jail in Jackson Sunday night, held on a $100,000 bond. He was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of statutory sodomy and -- for allegedly having sexual contact with a minor under his care -- one count of child endangerment.

Assistant Superintendent Rita Fisher of the Jackson School District said at least four counselors will be available to students at the beginning of class today. Fisher said a reserve of seven other counselors from other district facilities can also be assigned to the junior high school if necessary.

Fisher said school faculty members were briefed by counselors Saturday on how to address the concerns of the schoolchildren.

"Everybody knows that Monday morning, they need to be prepared for questions from students," she said.

Cape Girardeau County Assistant Prosecutor Lora Cooper said Sprandel faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the charges of statutory sodomy, which fall into a special, unclassified category of felony. For the child endangerment charge, a class D felony, he faces a maximum of five years in prison.

Sprandel began working for the Jackson School District in August 1988 and was a coach for the Jackson Area Optimist Soccer Association.

He is currently on paid suspension from the district, pending the outcome of the investigation. "He's charged, not convicted," Fisher noted.

Investigators say Sprandel had sexual contacts with the girl between March 17 and April 23 last year, and at least one incident happened at the school.

Although the DNA tests are pending, investigators do not believe that Sprandel was the father of the stillborn infant or that he had intercourse with the girl. According to court records, during an interview with Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Detective Rhonda Westrich, the juvenile reported Sprandel had fondled her breasts and genitals.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor Morley Swingle has said that statutory rape charges could be filed if the father is determined to be 17 years old or older.

Assistant Superintendent Fisher said, "This affects all of us. You take this very personally. It causes you to be concerned for the students and, of course, for the families involved."

Calls to the Sprandel residence in Fruitland and the juvenile's mother's residence in Jackson went unanswered.