WYANDOTTE, Mich. (WXYZ) — Tuesday evening, parents made sure their voices were heard in front of the Wyandotte school board after a former volunteer is facing 15 criminal sexual conduct charges involving children. The charges stem from three cases.
Parents stood in the front of the school board to express their frustrations and anger after a former volunteer with the program "Dads of Great Students" at Monroe Elementary School was charged for crimes involving children. Parents say the board should have stepped up when concerns were first raised.
NEXT AT 5:30A the Wyandotte School District opens an independent investigation into it's handling of a volunteer. Parents had complaints, and noted he had a criminal record -- why was he able to volunteer? He's since been charged with 15 crimes linked to sexual contact with kids. pic.twitter.com/iCh0D1cPTG
— Matthew Smith (@MattSmithWXYZ) August 14, 2019
RELATED: Wyandotte 'Dads of Great Students' volunteer charged with multiple sex crimes involving children
"If they (were) concerned with our kids safety then they would have taken that man’s record from the get go and not allowed him to be around our children," said Paula Chinavere, a concerned parent.
Michael Beebe, 48, volunteered with the "Dads of Great Students" program for several years. Parents say they expressed concerns about Beebe in the past and event sent a letter to the school board.
"It just makes us sick," said Christina Hunter, who sent a letter of concern to the school. "It wasn’t right, that’s why I wrote the letter. It wasn’t something that I felt a normal dad would do. I told my daughter red roses come from your daddy at this age when you’re 6 you don’t get red roses and things from another man."
The charges stem from three separate cases. The investigation first started in May and involves several victims. The board says Beebe had a background check and no red flags popped up.
"Any complaint against a volunteer gone, gone no question about it," said John Blackwell, a parent. "I’m sorry but a complaint like that (is) ridiculous."
Beebe was arrested on July 25. Parents say something needs to be done in the future to protect children and not use them as pawns in an adult world.
The school's superintendent and principal declined to comment.
Tuesday the board approved to have an independent investigation for this case done by an outside source.
Beebe remains in the Wayne County Jail on a $1 million bond. He'll appear again in court on Aug. 15.
