WINDHAM – A high school Latin teacher resigned Monday hours before the school board was scheduled to vote on whether to fire him for alleged sexual misconduct with a student.

James V. Bourget, 34, of Poland, was charged this summer with three counts of unlawful sexual contact. An affidavit accuses Bourget of having a romantic relationship with a 16-year-old girl who was in one of his classes.

Bourget was a former candidate for teacher of the year and supervised Windham High School’s yearbook and Latin clubs.

Outside the Manchester School where the school board met Monday evening, a group of nearly 50 parents, students and teachers lined Route 302 in support of Bourget.

Several students said they felt that Bourget had been falsely accused and “railroaded” into resigning.

“They ruined his life and his teaching career,” said 18-year-old Colin Patterson, who recently graduated from Windham High School and took classes from Bourget for four years. “I’m disappointed that he was unable to continue to fight.”

School board Chairman Jeffrey Vermette would not comment on the terms of the resignation. “We were very careful to do what was right for all parties,” he said.

According to court documents, Bourget allegedly kissed and fondled the student on three occasions in November 2002. The activities were consensual, and the student documented what she believed was a budding romantic relationship in a series of journal entries, according to the affidavit.

Police have confiscated the journals and a series of e-mails written in Latin that the student allegedly exchanged with Bourget.

Bourget’s supporters on Monday said anyone could have accessed Bourget’s e-mail account because he often let students use his computer without direct supervision and did not protect his account with a password.

Court documents suggest that Bourget’s lawyer, Thomas Marjerison, may question the alleged victim’s credibility in the upcoming criminal proceedings.

Marjerison has subpoenaed documents relating to the accuser’s past “suspension from school for dishonest and false e-mail,” and any “allegations of any improper conduct by any teacher or employee of any school in the past.”

Bourget has requested a jury trial, which has not been scheduled. Each charge is punishable by up to a year in jail.