WINONA, Minn. – The superintendent of Winona schools, Brad Berzinski, said that phys-ed teacher Eric Birth was placed on leave immediately when administrators learned he was the subject of a police investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct. Birth was told to leave immediately, Berzinsky said. That was January 3. School administrators cooperated fully with police, he said, and a report was made to the state Education Department. The state tracks teachers in such police cases to guard against miscreant contact with children. The Winona High School was among the first stops for police investigators in the case of Eric Birth. It’s been unclear whether Birth had any earlier sense that he was being investigated. His arrest Thursday, 1-1/2 months after he was placed on school leave, cited sexual relationships with female students in 2016, 2017 and 2022.
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Berzinki, in a letter to parents: “All school district employees are subject to a thorough background check before being hired, and are also required to complete training to reinforce policy, procedure, and our legal requirements as mandatory reporters. We strive to provide a supportive learning environment where our students, staff and community members feel safe and empowered to report any and all concerns. We have a Confidential Reporting Form on our website to report such concerns. Reports can also be made directly to WAPS staff members through less formal forms of communication, including letters, emails, phone calls, voicemails, or in-person conversations.”