A concerned parent reaching out to the Lowellville schools superintendent about personal messages to their daughter was the catalyst for the teacher being placed on leave and ultimately resigning. 

The Lowellville school board formally accepted the resignation of fifth and sixth grade social studies teacher David Olson at their meeting on Wednesday night.

At that time, all the district would say was that Olson had been on leave since February over an allegation of professional misconduct, which led some parents to question whether they were getting enough information, especially since only fifth and sixth grade families were notified of Olson being placed on leave. 

On Thursday, in response to a public records request from 21 News, the district provided more detail into what led to Olson's departure. 

In February, a parent contacted the district, saying: 

"Over the past several months, I have become aware of communication from this teacher that I believe crosses professional boundaries and raises significant concerns
about student safety and appropriate conduct. Specifically, frequent personal emails, requests for photos, attempts to see my child outside of school-related activities,
comments that felt personal rather than academic, etc."

On February 19, the parent asked for a formal investigation into the messages, along with information regarding district policies to ensure student safety. 

Internal documents show that the district had actually already met with Olson about these concerns two days prior  because they had also been brought to the attention of a school resource officer. 

Notes from that meeting indicate Olson denied any wrongdoing, but admitted to reaching out to the student on a school email, which can be tracked, to ask how a move had gone and then used his personal email to ask for photos from a class prank. Olson said the student obtained his personal email on their own and denied any inappropriate communication. The district also did not find evidence of any communications that they deemed "inappropriate," outside of the fact that such personal communication with a student in and of itself would be inappropriate. 

Olson was asked to agree not to have any personal communication with students and to sign and date a letter promising as much, which he did. 

The next day, February 19, Olson was placed on leave pending an investigation into allegations of "inappropriate communications and/or boundary invasions with a former student." 

It's not clear if these are new allegations, separate from the ones addressed just days before, or if new information had come to light. 

While that investigation was still underway, Olson submitted his resignation. 

No criminal charges have been filed and Lowellville police say they are not investigating the matter.