He was ordered held on $150,000 bail after he denied sending a sexual text message with photos to a 15-year-old student.
Chicopee High School mathematics teacher Donald Cushing is seen in Chicopee District Court Friday where he pleaded not guilty to four counts of statutory rape and two counts of disseminating obscene material.CHICOPEE – Chicopee High School teacher Donald Cushing of 645 James St., pleaded not guilty Friday in Chicopee District Court to four counts of statutory rape and two counts of disseminating obscene matter . He was ordered held in lieu of $150,000 cash bail.
Cushing was removed from class Tuesday morning and questioned by police and school officials.
He was verbally suspended Tuesday. On Thursday, he was mailed an official letter confirming the action. The suspension is unpaid, Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr. said Thursday.
“He is accused of sexting a 15-year-old student photos,” Rege said.
At a press conference held Friday afternoon, Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonette, Rege and Chicopee Police Chief John R. Ferraro said that the city is moving to terminate his employment as well as get his license to teach in Massachusetts revoked.
"He will never teach in Chicopee again, and if we have our way he will never teach in Massachusetts or anywhere in the country again," Bissonnette said.
The superintendent said the Cushing also is suspected of sending sexual messages to the student. Officials believe the texting began in March.
Chicopee High School Principal Roland R. Joyal Jr. was first alerted to concerns about the teacher by a family member of the student. The woman complained she had found a number of text messages from the teacher on the youth’s phone, Rege said.
Once police were contacted, they questioned Cushing in the school and later at the Police Department, he said.
No formal announcement was made to students, but Joyal met briefly with staff to tell them about the suspension. Other teachers were shocked, Rege said.
“It is also a shock to me,” he said.
A pretrail hearing was scheduled for June 10.
More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.