Counselors to help explain Iowa principal's arrest

IOWA CITY - Parents and students at an Iowa elementary school will be able to meet with school counselors this week in the wake of the principal's arrest on a federal child pornography charge.

Letters addressed to parents of Sageville Elementary School students from Dubuque Superintendent of Schools Larie Godinez should be arriving in mailboxes Tuesday.

Godinez writes that last week's arrest of Principal Robert Burke has "brought an unforeseen and tragic challenge" to the community. She says school counselors will be available at the school Wednesday and Thursday to help provide parents advice on "how to explain this situation to your children."

Investigators say Burke has admitted to downloading child pornography, and to installing a hidden video camera to capture images of boys using the bathroom. He has pleaded not guilty.