School janitor charged with molesting student at Clearwater school

By Valerie Boey, Tampabay's 10 News
Published 03/22/2007

Clearwater, Florida - Patrick Burke is concerned for the safety of his son Hunter, after hearing about a student at Skycrest Elementary being allegedly molested in school by a janitor.

"It doesn't give me any confidence they're worried about everything else when they need to be more worried about their security in school," Burke says.

Officers say 37-year-old Drew Zakrajsek touched an 11-year-old girl on the chest. They believe he befriended her at the school and even gave her small amounts of money.

Pinellas County School District Spokesperson Andrea Zahn says Zakrajsek was a familiar face on campus.

"This particular employee has been with the Pinellas County School since 1999 and generally received satisfactory evaluation," Zahn explains. A background check on the suspect had come out clean. "We take the safety and security of our students as our primary goal and want to ensure all parents that each and everyday on all campuses that's our primary goal."

But Burke says changes need to be made. "I think what they need to start doing is not allowing students to be alone with faculty in any kind of setting," he says. Burke also thinks the school should meet with parents about this. "I am upset, because I didn't get a call 'til a half hour ago and I think the school needs to be on top of it right away."

Zakrajsek will not be paid while in jail. Once he gets out, he'll be relocated to another area where there are no students, as the investigation continues.