PTO hires sex offender for prom activities

SPRINGFIELD — Officials of the Springfield School District say they will reassess rules after a parent-teacher group hired a convicted child sex offender for prom activities.

Lanphier High School's PTO hired 51-year-old Frank Phillips of Springfield to interview students on a red carpet leading into the prom, which was held Saturday. Phillips also was the DJ during an after-prom party.

School district spokesman Pete Sherman said Thursday the school district's policy is to perform background checks on all district hires. He says that rule does not apply to those employed by volunteer groups.

The head of Lanphier's parent-teacher organization said no one knew about Phillips' sex offense.

Court records show the man, who couldn't be reached for comment, was sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting a 13-year-old in 1997.