Bob Raines, the Shoreline Unified School District superintendent for five years, was arrested Tuesday for obscene acts with a child under 14. The district reported the incident to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office a week earlier and placed Mr. Raines on administrative leave. Detectives developed a probable cause and Mr. Raines was arrested at his home in Petaluma, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. He was released on $ 50,000 bail and denies the allegations against him.

Mr. Raines was due to retire at the end of the month after a 43-year career in teaching.

The school board called a special meeting on Wednesday to consider firing him and discuss a scheduled closed-door trial.

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Brenton Schneider said investigators were not aware of any other incidents involving Mr. Raines, but he encouraged all victims to call Detective Lauren Patton at (415) 473.7265 . He did not want to say when and where the acts would have taken place.

The district also did not say if the victim was a student, but the new superintendent and principal of Tomales High School, Adam Jennings, wrote in an email to the school community that “we fully support the affected family and will continue. to do”.

“I know it will stir up a lot of emotion and cause a lot of sadness,” he wrote. “Even as we address this issue, we will work diligently as a team to wrap up this school year, celebrate our graduating students, and be ready to welcome our students and families in the fall.”

Marin County Education Office Superintendent Mary Jane Burke, Shoreline Board Chair Jill Manning-Sartori and Teachers Union President Julie Cassel also made statements saying that the safety and well-being of the students was their top priority.

Mr. Raines was a major energy broker in West Marin. As head of the largest school district, he oversaw the hiring of dozens of staff and the instruction of approximately 500 students. He has served on committees dealing with internet connectivity, preschool readiness and safe routes to school. He oversaw union negotiations with teachers and classified staff, and campaigned for voting measures to fund schools.

Before Mr. Raines was hired at Shoreline, he worked 10 years as superintendent and principal of Alexander Valley Elementary School in Healdsburg, and another 10 years as superintendent and principal of Wilson Elementary School in Petaluma. From 1989 to 1991 he was Principal of Inverness and West Marin Schools.

Mr. Raines’ tenure was at times difficult. Unions threatened to strike over his handling of their wages, parents signed a petition declaring a vote of no confidence, and the post of sales manager was vacant for two years. Leadership turnover was a theme: four different principals have been hired at schools in Inverness and West Marin over the past five years, including Rey Mayoral, who resigned after an old sexual assault rule was revealed , and Matt Nagle, who sued the district and Mr. Raines for retaliation and received a settlement of $ 700.00. Bodega Bay and Tomales Elementary Schools also saw four different principals during Mr. Raines’ tenure.

Mr Raines, 66, said he retired because the district had reached a more stable location and wanted to spend time in Colorado with his two sons and new granddaughter.

Mr. Raines earned approximately $ 200,000 this year. Under the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act, public employees who are convicted of a felony for conduct on the job must forfeit their benefits vested after the date of the crime.