Ahead... but first.

A tupelo public school employee is now under investigation.

It's a story you saw first on wtva 9 news at six.

Wtva's rebecca butcherhas the latest on the investigation and reaction from parents.

Emily...certainly not what a parent wants to hear... the tupelo police department...confirms they are looking into this investigation of a tupelo high school teacher..

Tupelo police chief office released this statement ... we can confirm that there is an active criminal investigation regarding a tupelo public school system employee.

This is an active and ongoing investigation and we can make no further comments at this time.

The tupelo public school distrct alsostated.."we have referred this matter to local law enforcement authorities, who are conducting an investigation involving a tupelo high school teacher.

Due to applicable privacy laws, we are prohibited from disclosing non -public ppersonnel matters.

Out no.

1 priority is a safe learning enviorniment for all ourstudents."

-gregg ellis, tpsd director of communications i spoke with parents who say this is heavily concerning, and that they want transparency in terms of what's going on.

Jameka marion, parent :00-:05 "i don't think ateacher shouldbe doing criminalactivity if they're going to be dealing with kids."

Summerpaulk, concerned parent :05-:16 "even though we don't know what's going on i'm glad they're investigating.

All at the same time it makes youskepticala littlebit.

They're with our kids 8 hours a day.

So that's kind of scary to think about."

A parent i spoke to tonight says she'll be stressing to her kids to seek the help of any resource officers if anything inappropriate is going on.

The school district belives the state department of education will be notified of this matter on wednesday.

We're live tonight in tupelo, rebecca butcher wtva nine news.