A female Troup High School teacher has resigned after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student.

LaGrange police were notified of the alleged relationship after a Crime Stoppers tip by an anonymous caller March 6 to the Troup County sheriff’s department and faxed to police March 8.

No charges have been filed against the teacher. The matter was turned over to the Troup County school board, and the teacher submitted her resignation March 18.

“We have been apprised of allegations regarding an unprofessional relationship between a high school teacher and a 17-year-old student,” said school system spokeswoman Catherine Holmes. “We are conducting an inquiry into the matter. In the event that improper conduct is substantiated, the situation will be dealt with accordingly.

“At this time, we cannot disclose further details, as this is a personnel matter and deals with identifiable student information.”

The age of consent in Georgia is 16.

Sexual conduct between consenting teachers and students who have reached the age of consent is not illegal in Georgia. However, that could change.

House Bill 897, which would outlaw sex between consenting teachers and students, reads, “Consent of the victim shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this code section.”

The bill reported favorable by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee on Monday.

The measure follows last year’s reversal of a 28-year-old Augusta teacher’s conviction by the Georgia Supreme Court because the teacher had sex with a girl who was 16 at the time and consented to the relationship. Since then, other cases have been reversed including similar cases in Floyd County with two Model High School basketball coaches and Cobb County with a 36-year-old teacher.

Currently, state law makes it a crime for any person in a supervisory position or with disciplinary authority over another person to have sexual conduct in certain situations, even in a consenting relationship, including with a person “who is in the custody of law or who is detained in or is a patient in a hospital or other institution.” It also makes it a crime for sexual conduct with patients of psychotherapists or counselors.

Trey Wood can be reached at twood @ lagrangenews. com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228.