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Trial date scheduled for band instructor

By Caroline Trowbridge - | Feb 2, 2000

A former band teacher’s attorney appeared in municipal court last Wednesday and entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf in connection with a December incident at Lansing High School.

The teacher, Robert Duffer, is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior and child endangerment.

The charges were filed after a female student walked into the office of the bandroom and allegedly saw Duffer sitting in a chair, with his pants around his ankles, according to Capt. Alan Collins, acting police chief in Lansing.

At the hearing last week, Duffer’s trial date was set for 11 a.m. March 1.

Duffer, who has worked for the district since fall 1987, has been on suspension with pay. On Monday, the Lansing school board will decide whether to continue paying Duffer, according to Jan Jorgenson, acting superintendent.

In January, the school board adopted a resolution notifying Duffer that the board planned to fire him. Duffer has requested an administrative hearing on the termination of his contract. That hearing has not been scheduled yet, according to board clerk Paula Mengel.