Fort Lauderdale teacher jailed for ‘romantic’ relationship with student: records

A Broward County Public Schools reading teacher was jailed on Thursday on charges of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, court records show.

Basil Billings, 63, is a reading teacher at Dillard High School, a 6-12 magnet school in Fort Lauderdale. He has been working at the school since 2009, according to the school district.

On Thursday, Billings was charged with an offense against a student by an authority figure and lewd and lascivious touching of certain minors. Jail records note that the charges involve Billings having a romantic relationship with a student.

“Broward County Public Schools takes all matters involving student safety seriously and is deeply disturbed by the allegations involving this individual,” the district said in an email to the Miami Herald.

On May 1, Billings was placed on administrative reassignment away from the school and students due to the ongoing investigation, according to the school district.

Billings was first hired as a substitute teacher in 2004, a position that he held for about six months. He was rehired as a language-arts teacher in 2009.

Jail records show that Billings is locked up at the Broward County Main Jail as of Friday on a $35,000 bond. Billings’ attorney information was not immediately available.