LOCKNEY — A school employee has been placed on leave and the sheriff's office is investigating after Lockney Independent School District officials received reports the employee was engaged in misconduct with at least one student, the district confirmed Wednesday.

The educator was placed on administrative leave Monday after administrators received multiple tips during the last week of March that a school employee "may have engaged in educator misconduct relating to one or more district students," Superintendent Jim Baum said in a news release. The district notified local law enforcement and the Floyd County Sheriff's Office is investigating, he said.

Baum did not identify the accused employee or give any further information on the nature of the misconduct, citing state and federal laws which prohibit him from releasing personnel information.

"The school administration is grateful for the cooperation it received from local law enforcement, and it will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies relating to educator certification to the fullest extent permitted by law," Baum said.

"Student safety and proper professional relationships between staff and students are top priorities to Lockney ISD. Inappropriate relationships between district employees and students are never tolerated," the statement reads. "The Lockney ISD administration encourages anyone with concerns of a suspected improper relationship between a staff member and a student to immediately contact the superintendent's office or the Floyd County Sheriff's (Office)."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lockney educator on leave, accused of misconduct with students