Manheim Township police are investigating allegations of "inappropriate contact" between a male Warwick High School teacher and a female student at an undisclosed location in the township.

The investigation coincides with the replacement this week of high school band teacher Todd Sheerer and the cancellation of Sunday's Warwick middle school/high school band concert.

Warwick School District officials would only confirm that Sheerer has been replaced with a substitute teacher "until further notice."

When asked if Sheerer had been suspended, superintendent John George declined to respond.

"This is a personnel matter and must remain confidential," he said.

George said the band concert was canceled because of "unforeseen circumstances." He would not elaborate.

Sheerer could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

A news release issued Tuesday by Manheim Township Police Department about the investigation contained little information.

The two-sentence release listed no date or location for the alleged incident.

Public information officer Sgt. Thomas E. Rudzinski declined to provide additional details about the alleged incident or say why police began their investigation.

"The reason we came out with (the news release) was because there were so many rumors flying around," Rudzinski said.

According to sources in the Warwick community, Sheerer allegedly was involved with a Warwick High School senior and was recently discovered with the girl by another Warwick student.

A source said the encounter took place in a restaurant parking lot in Manheim Township.

Sheerer joined the Warwick staff in June 2003, according to newspaper records.

He was honored last fall for reinvigorating the marching band program at Warwick, which won a first-place trophy in the 2006 Cavalcade of Band competition for the first time in 28 years.

A graduate of Hempfield High School, Sheerer earned his bachelor's degree in instrumental music education from West Chester University.

E-mail: bwallace@lnpnews.com