Several other parents have said Beasley abused their children. Ann Arbor police have said that many of those allegations cannot be proved because the students' disabilities make communication difficult.
by David Jesse The Ann Arbor News
Tuesday February 03, 2009, 10:16 AM
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/02/letter_lays_out_abuse_claims_i.html
Michigan - A Washtenaw Intermediate School District teacher wrote a letter in early December outlining 10 incidents in which she says teacher's aide Michael Beasley pushed a special education student out of his chair, bent his fingers back and slapped, swore at and pinched him, documents obtained by The Ann Arbor News show.
That letter was written after a parent asked the teacher, Amy Carns, about interaction between Beasley and his son.
It's not clear whether the incidents, which allegedly took place last fall, were initially reported to WISD administrators, or whether they were investigated.
WISD spokeswoman Gerri Allen said the district, as part of its ongoing probe into what happened in a special education classroom at Ann Arbor's Scarlett Middle School, is reviewing the letter and whether the allegations were reported and investigated. The WISD runs programs at local schools for students with moderate and severe disabilities.
Two administrators - Diane Zedan and Pat O'Connell - have been placed on paid leave during the investigation.
A separate but related investigation by Ann Arbor police led to two counts each of child abuse and assault against Beasley. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Beasley's attorney, Doug Mullkoff, has not returned phone calls.
The issues bubbled to the surface when Carns, the classroom teacher, made a complaint about an aide pinching a child, on Oct. 30. Zedan investigated but concluded the allegation was not substantiated. Zedan did put the aide on a three-day unpaid disciplinary leave for not following the district's behavior management policy.
"The information from the various classroom staff did not agree. I concluded that the allegation was not substantiated," Zedan, the WISD's director of special education, wrote to the student's parents.
However, an attached report shows that Zedan spoke to only two staff members - the teacher who had witnessed the event and the aide who had been accused. The report includes no mention of interviewing a third staff member who allegedly witnessed the incident.
Zedan does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment. A message left for her with the WISD was not returned.
Carns told Zedan that during lunch on Oct. 30, Beasley, Carns and a teacher's aide named Kelli Hogue were sitting with their students in the cafeteria at Scarlett.
The student put his leg on Beasley's leg several times, and didn't stop when Beasley asked him to, Carns said.
"At that time, Michael refused assistance, and then right away reached his hand under the table and then (the student) screamed, 'Ouch, help' and began crying. I then immediately took him to the classroom and examined the area and there was a pinch mark with a bruise," Carns wrote in an incident report.
Beasley's description was different. He told Zedan the student was kicking him.
"At one point, (the student) slid out of his seat and Michael helped him back into his seat by supporting his back," Zedan's report reads. "Michael stated that he did not pinch (the student). (The student) was then taking trays back to the room. While going through the door, (the student) appeared to get stuck and said, 'Oh, oh, oh.'"
The parents were not satisfied with the WISD's handling of the case and met with Miller to express those concerns, parent Mike Hayes said. Other parents with students in the class also went to police with concerns that led to the charges.
Around the same time, Hayes asked Carns if his child had had any other run-ins with Beasley.
Carns wrote a letter, dated Dec. 4, 2008, citing those 10 other instances. Hogue also signed that letter.
Carns declined comment when contacted by a News reporter.
Allen said that letter was part of the information that led Assistant Superintendent Richard Leyshock to recommend to Miller on Dec. 8 that the investigation be reopened. Beasley was again placed on leave that day.
Several other parents have said Beasley abused their children. Ann Arbor police have said that many of those allegations cannot be proved because the students' disabilities make communication difficult.
David Jesse can be reached at djesse@... or at 734-994-6937. Join the discussion at blog.mlive.com/study_hall.
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