Leo Bennett-Cauchon, Manteca Unified’s special ed teacher who continues to be on leave of absence with pay, is taking his cause to Lathrop High School.

He is bringing his vigil and fasting to the Spartan campus in Lathrop in protest of his leave of absence and his request to be reinstated to his job at Veritas Elementary School in Manteca. He was given notice of his leave of absence on Feb. 3 based on allegations of inappropriately touching one of his students. Bennett-Cauchon has maintained his innocence, and the 8-year-old boy’s mother remains supportive of her son’s teacher.

Some parents plan to join Bennett-Cauchon’s vigil at Lathrop High, where he started on Monday, after school dismissal at 2:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, he is scheduled to have a conference with Manteca Unified district officials to share with him the findings in the district investigation into his case.

Monday’s vigil at Lathrop High marks a new start to Bennett-Cauchon’s fasting. He was persuaded by his wife, Terry, also a special ed teacher who is on medical leave due to illness, to break his fasting by having a light meal on Saturday because of her concerns about muscle weakness in her husband’s legs. He started his fasting when he began his vigil last week outside the front entrance to the school district office on West Louise Avenue.

The Manteca Police Department, which took over the investigation from the school in connection with Bennett-Cauchon’s alleged improper relations with a student, has yet to complete that task.