By ANDREA EILENBERGER

LOPATCONG TWP. | A seventh-grade social studies teacher charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl was suspended from her job with pay.

Keri Ann Brekne’s suspension is retroactive to Jan. 23 and is pending further investigation, the township school board’s resolution states.

<!– if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) { document.write(”); } –>Prior to the vote, Superintendent Michael Rossi said the Brekne situation has been a difficult time for both the district and administration. He said the district has discussed the matter with police to best determine what it can publicly say on the matter.

Board attorney Mark Toscano said he could not say whether the victim was a student.

“The board and the administrators have done everything that they can to protect the students while at the same time respecting the requests of the various law enforcement agencies involved,” Toscano said. “As we are able to discuss more information and come into more information, the board will make it available in a timely matter.”

Brekne was arrested Jan. 23 and at the time board member Ernie Gallant said Brekne was not actively teaching. Her salary is $46,012.

Brekne, 28, of Bethlehem, is facing sexual assault charges in Northampton County and Warren County. The alleged abuse in New Jersey occurred between June 1 and Sept. 30, records show. The alleged abuse began when the girl was 14 years old.

Pennsylvania court records show the girl told police Brekne drove her from her Warren County home to Brekne’s Bethlehem home, where she was allegedly abused, between July 1 and September.

Board members also rescinded their appointment of Brekne as 2007-08 student council and ski club adviser. The board appointed Scott Yerger as the 2008 ski club adviser.

Reading this article it tells me that some manic you call a woman sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Matter of fact the woman was a 7th grade social studies teacher. But they’re really not sure whether the victim was a student or not. They are suspending the teacher without pay and taking her from head off the student council and advisor of the ski club.

Now in my opinion how in the world are you not going to know whether the child was a student or not.Check your darn records and if she is in there what does that make her…..a student right!!!! Anyways they gave the teacher a suspension without pay what type of punishment is that. She needs her teaching license away. One: she nasty because she is a woman and the victim was a girl….what is she a lesbian or not!! And two: she just plain old nasty. I wish any of my teacher would…they would suffer some hard consequences and repracussions!!!