Twisting in the wind

It's not often that we're on the same page as a local teacher union official, but we'll make an exception in the case of two Foothill High School teachers.

The teachers have been on paid leave since May pending a district investigation involving sexual misconduct against students. They did not return to the classroom when the new school year began this week.

Obviously, the district must tread carefully. But it's been more than three months since the teachers were relieved. Henderson police have already determined that the cases didn't warrant police investigations. So what is taking district officials so long to move forward?

"The district has a moral obligation to its employees to move swiftly so people know where they stand," said John Jasonek, executive director of the Clark County Education Association. "They either have information or they don't. They need to move on it."

This situation is unfair to both the teachers, who are left twisting in the wind while their reputations suffer, and the taxpayers, who are paying their salaries while awaiting a resolution.

Summer vacation is no excuse. District officials should have wrapped this one weeks ago. Now they need to move even faster.