OPI reports educator license surrender; district and law-enforcement investigations noted

Brenton Craig of the Office of Public Instruction updated the board on a license surrender filed with the Board of Public Education. Craig said Great Falls Public Schools and local law enforcement investigated allegations made against Michael Jarrett, the district placed him on paid administrative leave, and Jarrett submitted an affidavit surrendering his educator license to OPI.

Craig said the district performed parallel investigations into other allegations, informed Jarrett of disciplinary recommendations, and noted that the superintendent of public instruction summarily suspended Jarrett's license pending further action. "Since this was filed with the Board of Public Education, since then, Mr. Jarrett has been convicted in court," Craig told the board; the transcript redacts portions of the charged offenses.

Because the license had been surrendered, the board was not required to take formal action on the case during the meeting. Craig stood for questions but no board action was necessary on the surrender itself.