East Palo Alto school employee charged with lewd acts against student

James Fitch, a 54-year-old employee at Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto, has been charged with committing lewd acts against a seventh-grade student. The allegations surfaced after his wife discovered inappropriate text messages on his cellphone. Fitch was arrested following the report to the East Palo Alto police, which occurred earlier this month. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges of lewd acts with a minor and contacting a minor for sexual purposes. Fitch, who served as a campus relations coordinator, was taken into custody and is currently held on a $500,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 30. The Ravenswood City School District has expressed deep concern for the affected student and their family, emphasizing their commitment to providing support services and counseling during this troubling time. Superintendent Gina Sudaria stated that the district took immediate action upon learning of the allegations and has been cooperating with law enforcement throughout the investigation. Fitch had previously passed all required background checks and fingerprinting when he was hired, raising questions about the effectiveness of these measures in preventing such incidents. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the importance of safeguarding students in educational environments. The district encourages anyone with further information regarding the case to reach out to the East Palo Alto Police Department, underscoring the community's role in addressing and preventing misconduct in schools.