UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Christopher Thomas, a teacher at Wiley Middle School in University Heights, pleaded not guilty Thursday morning, to charges of sexual battery.

The 30-year-old social studies teacher is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female student for more than a year.

"From what we understand it started in Sept. of 08' up until Nov. 6th of this year," said Det. Christopher Bowersock of the Eastlake Police Dept.

Police escorted Thomas from Wiley Middle School on Tuesday and took him to Eastlake City Jail.

They say the alleged sexual conduct between Thomas and the 14-year-old girl took place at her home in University Heights, his home in Eastlake and on school property.

The school superintendent is outraged.

"How could this go on and not be noticed? That's a question we need to have answered too," said University Heights/Cleveland Heights School Superintendent Douglas Heuer.

University Heights Police say the girl's parents called them on Saturday, after learning that their daughter was reportedly with Thomas on Friday night.

An attorney for Thomas says he has no criminal record and Heuer says Thomas passed his background check when he was hired in August of 2007.

Thomas is currently out on bond and on administrative leave, while police and the school system continue to investigate and figure out what may have gone wrong.

"When a tragedy like this happens, you have to look back and try to determine why, and then make plans for the future to prevent it," said Heuer.