KENNEDALE, Texas — A former Kennedale ISD custodian was arrested Tuesday following a report of a former district employee inappropriately behaving in front of a minor student.
Since an allegation of inappropriate behavior was made December 20, Kennedale ISD, Kennedale Police and state agencies have been investigating Lewis Wayne Rawlings, a 70-year-old white man who at the time was a custodian with the school district, according to Kennedale ISD.
After the report was made, Rawlings was immediately removed from campus, according to a statement from the City of Kennedale, which is located southeast of Fort Worth.
Mansfield Jail records show a Lewis Wayne Rawlings was arrested and booked Tuesday, Jan. 15 on an indecency with a child sexual contact charge. Bond is set at $10,000.
Rawlings won the district's "Wonderful, Outstanding Wildcat Award" in August 2018, according to the district's website. The award was created to "encourage students, staff, parents and community members to recognize Kennedale ISD employees for the positive things they do for children and the district," according to the district's website.
This is the statement Kennedale ISD emailed parents Monday:
On December 20, 2018, Kennedale ISD in cooperation with the Kennedale Police Department and state agencies began an investigation immediately following an allegation of inappropriate behavior of a former employee that involved a minor student. Campus administration notified the parent of the student in which the incident occurred.
To preserve the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigation with law enforcement, the district is limited in the information we are able to share, but as always, the district wants to assure everyone that student safety is and will continue to be a priority in Kennedale ISD.
Kennedale ISD encourages any concerns regarding the well-being and safety of students be reported to the campus principal or to Kennedale ISD Director of Safety and Security, Logan Barrett.
