The Bellevue Police Department is investigating allegations that a former Jubilee REACH employee who worked in Tillicum Middle School engaged in improper communication with a minor.

In a letter sent to parents last week, Tillicum Principal James Peterson informed parents of the police investigation and assured them of their students’ safety, while asking parents to watch for any signs of distress in their children.

“I want to assure you that student safety is a priority at our school and within the district, and that we take allegations of inappropriate conduct by any adult very seriously. Jubilee REACH employees working in our school pass rigorous background checks and receive extensive training,” Peterson wrote in his letter.

Officials with Jubilee REACH confirmed that one of their on-site coordinators — who work in the school and are involved in after-school activities — was placed on administrative leave and removed from his work in Tillicum on May 31 after the allegations emerged. The employee, who has not been charged with any crime at this time and is therefore not being identified publicly, was terminated on June 5.

“We felt it was appropriate to have him off of the school’s campus and end his employment,” Jubilee REACH’s Director of Community Relations Rev. Tom Brewer told the Reporter.

The community organization has on-site coordinators in 14 Bellevue schools — six elementary, seven middle and one high school.

Each employee and volunteer is carefully vetted, the organization said. The employee in question had passed the vetting process and had been fingerprinted by the school district. There had not been any past allegations against him, Brewer said.

“Any time anyone makes allegations, especially involving children, it’s important to address them and make sure they are never neglected,” he added. Mere days before, it was revealed in police deocuments that the parents of a Bellevue Christian student said that claims their daughter had made against an employee were swept under the rug.

The exact nature of the allegations is unknown to the public at this time. The Bellevue Police Department declined to release any information or comment at this time, as they are still investigating.