BRIGHTON, Colo. -- The school district in Brighton has joined the investigation at Brighton Charter High School after a teacher was accused of having sexual relations with a student there.

The district said it wants to know if there was a cover-up by one of the charter board members, or by the entire board.

Dist. 27J superintendent Dr. Rod Blunck met with a charter school board member and an attorney Wednesday.

Blunck said he told charter school board member Ken Mitchell to be upfront with the community about has happened and about what is being done.

The scandal is the talk of the town after former teacher Carrie McCandless, 29, was accused of having sex with a male student at Brighton Charter High School on a field trip to a YMCA near Estes Park.

Max Smith used to attend the charter school and he said McCandless was a good teacher and that the allegations are going to hurt a lot of people who worked hard to build the school.

"Oh my God, that school is their life. It really is," said Smith. "I've seen some of the employees stay overnight just working on things there."

The scandal isn't just news in Brighton.

Adam Starbuck said he was chatting online with an Xbox Live player from the East Coast when that player mentioned the liaison between the teacher and the student.

"I was like, 'Wow, I know the kid,'" said Starbuck. "It was right here in Brighton."

District officials said they not only have an obligation to investigate, but an obligation to help.

Officials have offered advice to the charter board.

"Issues do happen. People need to be informed," said Blunck. "When issues do happen, especially when it comes to their kids, the quicker people are informed that the issue is being investigated, the more sense of ease they feel and the more confident they feel with the people that are with that program."

Blunck said the investigation will determine if the district's contract with Brighton Charter High School has been violated. If it has, the district's reaction could range from admonishing the charter school board to revoking their contract.

Brighton Charter High School's governing board will hold a public hearing Thursday at 4 p.m. at the school.