Michelle Bluford, 55, who has been with Elkhorn Public Schools for more than 20 years, was charged Wednesday with one count of intentional child abuse. They referred to this a quiet time, judge. . Share Tweet Advertisement Search All rights reserved. Bluford began to isolate the student, sometimes taking the student off school grounds, texting the student, and having the student sign on to an app so they could be tracked, court documents state. Shawn has a keen sense and ability for being able to identify what will help students feel successful in jazz improvisation immediately. Elkhorn South High School average salary is 18 percent higher than USA average and median salary is 29 percent higher than USA median. Dr. Michelle Bluford, the band director at Elkhorn South High School, was taken into custody late Monday, following a month-long investigation. Superintendent Bary Habrock presented the request for Bluford's contract to be terminated. They began a routine in which the defendant required the victim to hug her every morning before school and at the end of the day, Faith Kjelstrup, Deputy County Attorney said. Bluford began to isolate the student, sometimes taking the student off school grounds, texting the student, and having the student sign on to an app so they could be tracked, court documents state. Alia Conley covers breaking news, crime and courts. Bluford worked for the Elkhorn school district for 21 of her 33 years as a teacher. Officials at Elkhorn South suspended all summer band activities last month after the investigation was reported. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. Bluford has been director of the Elkhorn South High School band for several years and has been employed by the district for two decades. OMAHA, Neb. An investigation was conducted by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, which established Michelle Bluford, the Elkhorn South Band Director, initiated and nurtured an inappropriate relationship with a former student over a period of approximately three years. An arrest warrant was issued Monday for 55-year-old Michelle Bluford, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. She also repeatedly kissed the victims head, face and arms.. The complaint filed by Deputy County Attorney Molly Keane on Thursday alleges a minor child was put into an exploitive situation in the span of two years, from June 26, 2017-2019. Omaha, NE - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. A preliminary hearing for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, is scheduled for Aug. 27. Former Elkhorn South band director accused of child abuse bonds out of jail. Achievements . I don't know why it just popped into my head to ask now, but just curious if anyone knows the outcome. DSCO says the time frame was about three years but court documents say two. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The girl told authorities that approximately three times a week, the two would have quiet time, which was when the girl would sit on Blufords lap. According to court documents, during the students junior year, Bluford allegedly manipulated the student into believing their family did not care for them. OMAHA, Neb. Elkhorn South band director Michelle Bluford made her first appearance in court Wednesday. OMAHA, Neb. Further into the release, DCSO states, the relationship consisted of predatory grooming behaviors which eventually lead to inappropriate sexual contact with the former student by Dr. Bluford. Officials say no more details will be released to the public until the investigation is complete and the Elkhorn Public School admission has been fully cooperative. Elkhorn Public Schools is aware of the issuance of an arrest warrant for Michelle Bluford, and we continue to cooperate with the Douglas County Sheriffs office in their investigation. To reset your password, enter your email address and press Submit. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. At one point, Kjelstrup said, Bluford made the girl sign up for an app that would allow Bluford to track the girls location. "We offer our deepest sympathies to the victim and her family and are very saddened by the events that transpired," Parks said, reading from a prepared statement. She also taught for six years at Omaha Benson and Ponca Public School, according to her bio on that site, and has also served as president of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. One board member, Nancy Rogic-Greufe, was absent during the vote. She previous also taught in the Ponca Public Schools and Omaha Public Schools . (WOWT) - An Elkhorn South High School band director is facing a felony child abuse charge stemming from a complaint spanning two years. She has resided in the Omaha area for several decades, Knipe said. According to her biography on the Music for All website, where Bluford is listed as a summer symposium faculty member, before teaching in Elkhorn she spent six years at Ponca Public Schools and six years at Benson High School. Fremont Sr. Investigators believe Bluford groomed a student at Elkhorn South starting in 2017, which led to sexual contact with the student. Parks went on to say they are dedicated to protecting students from abuse and neglect and said they will take prompt action when a report is received. Bluford is accused of sexually abusing a student who has since graduated. Some may find the descriptions in this story disturbing. Documents now indicate that Bluford also faces two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child. The alleged victim graduated in 2019, documents state. Further into the release, DCSO states, the relationship consisted of predatory grooming behaviors which eventually lead to inappropriate sexual contact with the former student by Dr. Bluford. Officials say no more details will be released to the public until the investigation is complete and the Elkhorn Public School admission has been fully cooperative. Prosecutors believe she groomed the victim, a student at Elkhorn South, for two to three years. OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge.. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. Ryan Placek, Millard North High School. According to an ESHS band website, Bluford has been a teacher for 33 years 21 of them in the Elkhorn school district. The Douglas County Sheriffs Office had issued a warrant for her arrest Friday, according to court documents. All rights reserved. You will receive an email with additional instructions. At this time, this remains an ongoing personnel matter. Matthew Knipe, Blufords attorney said she has long-standing ties to the community. . Her bands, orchestras, and jazz bands have consistently earned Superior Plus and Superior ratings at District Music Contest, state and regional competitions, the website states. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says Elkhorn South High School Band Director Dr. Michelle Bluford was taken into custody Monday evening without incident for one count of Felony Child Abuse in an investigation that is ongoing. (WOWT) - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. The victim would sit on the defendant's lap and she would rock her, Kjelstrup said. The judge set Blufords bond at $75,000. Former Elkhorn South band director accused of child abuse bonds out of jail. (WOWT) - An Elkhorn South High School band director is facing a felony child abuse charge stemming from a complaint spanning two years. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. Kjelstrup said things escalated from there. Prosecutor Faith Kjelstrup on Wednesday detailed what she said Bluford did to the former student behavior she said occurred between June 2017 and June 2019, when the teen graduated. The board also approved the resignation of another band director from Elkhorn South, Lindsey Bogatz. Officials say Bluford was arrested around 7 p.m. Monday on the warrant charging her with felony child abuse. (AP) A west Omaha high school band director has been arrested, accused of inappropriate contact and sexually abuse of a former student over a three-year period. Bluford also allegedly had the victim sit on her lap at school and rock them three times a week, calling this their quiet time. Later, Bluford also allegedly took the victim to her car for cuddles in an effort to get the student to fall asleep; and would rub her hands over the students body, including private areas, documents show. OMAHA, Neb. Pursuant to state law, we are unable to respond to questions or provide additional information. Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage. 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