She was a 16-year-old sophomore who investigators say was getting “special treatment” from her then-53-year-old math teacher at Cypress Bay High School in Weston.
Vincent Edward Grossi, now 54, had improved her grades in the past and the relationship turned more personal in early October, according to a Broward Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The two went from having lengthy personal discussions to kissing, the report said. The teen told detectives it happened about five times and always in the classroom when no other students were present.
“The victim said that the defendant covered the window on the classroom door to ensure that no one else could see inside,” the arrest report said.
The relationship ended later in October when Grossi was reassigned from the school at 18600 Vista Park Blvd., because of an internal investigation in which other female students “reported inappropriate behavior by the defendant.”
Grossi was arrested Wednesday and charged with being an authority figure soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship with a student.
During a court hearing Thursday, attorney Sidney Fleischman sought a “reasonable” bond for Grossi and wondered about the wording of the statute his client is being charged under.
“Any alleged contact was always just at the school. I don’t know it that necessarily is defined as a relationship of a romantic nature,” Fleischman said.
“These are serious allegations,” Broward Judge Jackie Powell said in setting Grossi’s bond at $5,000. She also ordered him to wear a GPS ankle monitor and have no contact with the alleged victim when he bonds out of jail.
According to the Broward School District, Grossi was initially hired as a substitute teacher in 1989. Since then, he has been a full-time teacher at Plantation High School, McNichol Middle School and Western High School. He was hired as a math teacher at Cypress Bay High School in 2003.
“The individual is currently reassigned, pending an investigation,” school district spokeswoman Nadine Drew said.
Staff writer Wayne K. Roustan contributed to this report.