MEBANE, N.C. — A week after the last day of school, misdemeanor charges levied at a principal and teacher assistant are the latest in a series of problems that have plagued the Alamance-Burlington School System this year. 

On Friday, the district announced in a press release that Woodlawn Middle School teacher assistant William Jackson, 55, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor assault on a child under 12. The school’s principal, Tom Kazimir, 53, was charged with misdemeanor failure to report a crime against a juvenile. 

In late April, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office began investigating an allegation of abuse of a student and found probable cause that a student was assaulted during school hours. 

A statement from the school said since Jackson is a 10-month employee, his last day of employment for the 2023-24 school year was Thursday, two days after a warrant for his arrest was issued. 

Kazimir was suspended with pay on Thursday, also two days after a warrant for his arrest was issued. 

This is not the first time this year that a district employee has been charged with a crime against a student. 

In February, deputy superintendent Lowell Rogers was charged with misdemeanor failure to report a crime against a juvenile. He was suspended without pay. 

The district has also been dealing with a widespread mold problem that delayed the start of school and cost millions. In a state report released on Wednesday, legislators allege that the district may have broken state law and violated its own policies while trying to fund the cleanup. 

The problems didn’t end there. Persistent budget issues have led the district to eliminate two positions and cancel sessions of summer school.