3 Catholic leaders accused of sexually assaulting minors have since died
updated 7:53 a.m. ET, Thurs., March. 5, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29522721/
FORT WORTH, Texas - The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth on Wednesday reached a $775,000 settlement involving sexual abuse claims against three priests who have since died.
The five people involved in the claims said they were sexually abused by the Rev. James Reilly, who served at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Arlington from 1969 through 1987, when he retired. Reilly died in 1999.
Diocese spokesman Pat Svacina said he could not reveal any specifics, such as the victims' genders or dates of the alleged abuse.
One of the cases also involved two other priests, the Rev. James Hanlon and the Rev. Gerard Scholl, both of whom served or taught in Texas and New Mexico from the 1970s to the 1990s. Hanlon died in 1990 and Scholl died in 2002, according to records.
The Rev. Kevin Vann, bishop of the Fort Worth diocese, said he was deeply sorry for any sexual abuse the victims may have suffered by the three priests, and that he prays for their healing and reconciliation.
Vann said in a statement that he was "committed to ensuring that the diocese's policies are adhered to so we can prevent future tragedy such as that which has befallen the victims of abuse."
Among the diocese's recent settlements is a lawsuit filed by 11 men who said Reilly sexually abused them when they were altar boys. The men received at least $1 million apiece and payment for one year of counseling.
Reilly and Hanlon were two of six Fort Worth diocese priests accused of sexually abusing minors named in documents released in 2006. Those files had been sealed as part of a sexual abuse lawsuit that was settled in 2005.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
WA: Beating caught on police video
Tape shows officer kicking, striking teenager
By SCOTT GUTIERREZ
P-I REPORTER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/401779_schene28.html
A video showing a King County Sheriff's deputy pummeling a 15-year-old girl in a holding cell was released Friday over the strenuous objections of the officer's attorney.
The case goes beyond police misconduct, County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a prepared statement.
"It's about criminal misconduct. And that's why he needs to be prosecuted," he said.
The video of the Nov. 29 incident was disclosed Friday, one day after Deputy Paul Schene, 31, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault in King County District Court.
Schene, an eight-year veteran, works out of Precinct 4, which covers SeaTac, Burien and high crime areas in White Center and Skyway.
He is the third sheriff's deputy since 2006 to face charges on allegations of excessive force. All three are from the Burien precinct.
A detective assigned to the girl's case discovered the video Dec. 1 and immediately forwarded it to supervisors.
The Seattle P-I requested a copy of the holding cell video and all reports from the incident under the state's open records law. A judge on Thursday denied a request from Schene's attorney to bar the video from public disclosure.
"We take this very seriously and we're very concerned about this," sheriff's Sgt. Jim Laing said Friday. An internal investigation would begin after the criminal case is finished.
The girl was arrested after she was caught in her parents' car, which had been reported stolen from her parents' Tukwila home. Deputy Travis Brunner spotted the car driving without headlights about 3:45 a.m. on 32nd Avenue South in SeaTac and pulled it over.
She and another 15-yearold girl were arrested and taken to SeaTac City Hall to be fingerprinted before being transported to the youth detention center.
The P-I is not naming the girl because she is a minor.
The deputies apparently didn't know until later that the girl, who was in the passenger seat, was related to the car's owner.
"We had argued strenuously that the videotape released to the media this morning not be released because it does not tell the whole story of the incident," attorney Anne Bremner said in a statement.
"As we argued to the judge, it will inflame public opinion and will severely impact the deputy's right to a fair trial."
The video shows Schene and Brunner as they escorted the girl into the holding cell. Schene had asked her to remove her basketball shoes, and, as she slipped out of her left shoe, she appeared to kick it at Schene.
Schene then lunged through the door and kicked her, striking either her stomach or upper thigh area, court documents say. He pushed her against a corner wall before flinging her to the floor by her hair. He then squatted down on her and made "two overhead strikes," although it's unclear where the blows landed.
The detective who reviewed the video said it appeared Schene and Brunner had the girl under control when Schene struck her. Schene, who is 6 feet 2 and weighs 195 pounds, did not explain his action to investigators, court documents say.
He and the girl exchanged words. Brunner said she was "real lippy" after being informed she was under arrest and called them "fat pigs."
The Sheriff's Office policy manual says deputies should use physical or deadly force only when "necessary to effect an arrest, to defend themselves or others from violence, or to otherwise accomplish police duties according to law."
Schene could face up to a year in jail if convicted. He has been on administrative leave since early December.
The girl said that she couldn't breathe after the incident, prompting the deputies to call paramedics.
Paramedics decided that she didn't require hospitalization. Felony charges require proof of serious injury.
"If the matter were to go to trial, he could face additional charges," said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff in the Prosecutor's Office.
In his own report from the incident, Schene wrote that the shoe hit him in the right shin, "causing injury and pain." He wrote that he "placed" her into handcuffs and that she needed medical attention for a "panic attack."
He said a "blood filled pocket" formed on his shin, requiring treatment at Auburn General Hospital, according to his report. The video, however, appears to show his shin strike a metal toilet as he pushes the girl against the wall.
The girl told investigators that she didn't intend for the shoe to hit him, court documents say.
Schene had previously been in the news in 2006 after he fatally shot Pedro Jo, a mentally ill man, during a struggle after a traffic stop on Interstate 5. It was the second officer-involved shooting of his career.
An inquest jury ruled the shooting was justified. Jo viciously attacked Schene, trying to strangle him with his own radio cord.
Jo then ran back to his car and disobeyed Schene's orders to stop. Schene said he saw Jo reach for something in the seat, so Schene fired 11 times after Jo ran back to his car.
Shortly after the shooting while on administrative leave, Schene was stopped for driving under the influence.
He had been drinking and taking prescription medication, according to court records. He received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation, records show.
Schene works in an urban precinct with higher rates of violent crime and gang activity than other precincts. Officers assigned there more often report having to use physical force in arrest situations, Laing said.
Schene is the second officer from the precinct in three months to face charges. In addition, a third deputy, Brian Bonnar, was acquitted in January of civil rights violations during a trial in U.S. District Court. Bonnar, who patrolled in the precinct, was accused by other deputies of using excessive force on a woman who'd been restrained after a high-speed pursuit.
Legal costs for Bonnar's private attorneys, David Allen and Todd Maybrown, as well as lawyer costs for other deputies involved, cost the county's insurer $315,000, according to records the P-I obtained.
In December, Deputy Don Griffee was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a handcuffed male suspect. The state Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.
P-I reporter Scott Gutierrez can be reached at 206-903-5396 or scottgutierrez@seattlepi.com.
By SCOTT GUTIERREZ
P-I REPORTER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/401779_schene28.html
A video showing a King County Sheriff's deputy pummeling a 15-year-old girl in a holding cell was released Friday over the strenuous objections of the officer's attorney.
The case goes beyond police misconduct, County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a prepared statement.
"It's about criminal misconduct. And that's why he needs to be prosecuted," he said.
The video of the Nov. 29 incident was disclosed Friday, one day after Deputy Paul Schene, 31, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault in King County District Court.
Schene, an eight-year veteran, works out of Precinct 4, which covers SeaTac, Burien and high crime areas in White Center and Skyway.
He is the third sheriff's deputy since 2006 to face charges on allegations of excessive force. All three are from the Burien precinct.
A detective assigned to the girl's case discovered the video Dec. 1 and immediately forwarded it to supervisors.
The Seattle P-I requested a copy of the holding cell video and all reports from the incident under the state's open records law. A judge on Thursday denied a request from Schene's attorney to bar the video from public disclosure.
"We take this very seriously and we're very concerned about this," sheriff's Sgt. Jim Laing said Friday. An internal investigation would begin after the criminal case is finished.
The girl was arrested after she was caught in her parents' car, which had been reported stolen from her parents' Tukwila home. Deputy Travis Brunner spotted the car driving without headlights about 3:45 a.m. on 32nd Avenue South in SeaTac and pulled it over.
She and another 15-yearold girl were arrested and taken to SeaTac City Hall to be fingerprinted before being transported to the youth detention center.
The P-I is not naming the girl because she is a minor.
The deputies apparently didn't know until later that the girl, who was in the passenger seat, was related to the car's owner.
"We had argued strenuously that the videotape released to the media this morning not be released because it does not tell the whole story of the incident," attorney Anne Bremner said in a statement.
"As we argued to the judge, it will inflame public opinion and will severely impact the deputy's right to a fair trial."
The video shows Schene and Brunner as they escorted the girl into the holding cell. Schene had asked her to remove her basketball shoes, and, as she slipped out of her left shoe, she appeared to kick it at Schene.
Schene then lunged through the door and kicked her, striking either her stomach or upper thigh area, court documents say. He pushed her against a corner wall before flinging her to the floor by her hair. He then squatted down on her and made "two overhead strikes," although it's unclear where the blows landed.
The detective who reviewed the video said it appeared Schene and Brunner had the girl under control when Schene struck her. Schene, who is 6 feet 2 and weighs 195 pounds, did not explain his action to investigators, court documents say.
He and the girl exchanged words. Brunner said she was "real lippy" after being informed she was under arrest and called them "fat pigs."
The Sheriff's Office policy manual says deputies should use physical or deadly force only when "necessary to effect an arrest, to defend themselves or others from violence, or to otherwise accomplish police duties according to law."
Schene could face up to a year in jail if convicted. He has been on administrative leave since early December.
The girl said that she couldn't breathe after the incident, prompting the deputies to call paramedics.
Paramedics decided that she didn't require hospitalization. Felony charges require proof of serious injury.
"If the matter were to go to trial, he could face additional charges," said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff in the Prosecutor's Office.
In his own report from the incident, Schene wrote that the shoe hit him in the right shin, "causing injury and pain." He wrote that he "placed" her into handcuffs and that she needed medical attention for a "panic attack."
He said a "blood filled pocket" formed on his shin, requiring treatment at Auburn General Hospital, according to his report. The video, however, appears to show his shin strike a metal toilet as he pushes the girl against the wall.
The girl told investigators that she didn't intend for the shoe to hit him, court documents say.
Schene had previously been in the news in 2006 after he fatally shot Pedro Jo, a mentally ill man, during a struggle after a traffic stop on Interstate 5. It was the second officer-involved shooting of his career.
An inquest jury ruled the shooting was justified. Jo viciously attacked Schene, trying to strangle him with his own radio cord.
Jo then ran back to his car and disobeyed Schene's orders to stop. Schene said he saw Jo reach for something in the seat, so Schene fired 11 times after Jo ran back to his car.
Shortly after the shooting while on administrative leave, Schene was stopped for driving under the influence.
He had been drinking and taking prescription medication, according to court records. He received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation, records show.
Schene works in an urban precinct with higher rates of violent crime and gang activity than other precincts. Officers assigned there more often report having to use physical force in arrest situations, Laing said.
Schene is the second officer from the precinct in three months to face charges. In addition, a third deputy, Brian Bonnar, was acquitted in January of civil rights violations during a trial in U.S. District Court. Bonnar, who patrolled in the precinct, was accused by other deputies of using excessive force on a woman who'd been restrained after a high-speed pursuit.
Legal costs for Bonnar's private attorneys, David Allen and Todd Maybrown, as well as lawyer costs for other deputies involved, cost the county's insurer $315,000, according to records the P-I obtained.
In December, Deputy Don Griffee was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a handcuffed male suspect. The state Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.
P-I reporter Scott Gutierrez can be reached at 206-903-5396 or scottgutierrez@seattlepi.com.
MA: Woman accused of trying to drown baby in toilet; another child’s remains found
By Beth Hundsdorfer / McClatchy Newspapers Tuesday, March 3, 2009 http://www.bostonherald.com Midwest
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/midwest/view.bg?articleid=1155954&format=text
BELLEVILLE, Ill. - A Belleville teacher’s aide is accused of trying to drown one newborn in a toilet after giving birth at a family party in Columbia, Ill., in November, and is being investigated in the death of another, whose decomposed body was discovered at her home last week.
Despite the protests of police, who argued that Elyse J. Mamino put her tiny daughter face-first in a water-filled toilet bowl and left her gasping for air and kicking her legs, child protection workers returned the child to her care until her arrest Friday.
"What more of a helpless victim can you have than a newborn infant?" Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said during a press conference Monday. "This is a very disturbing case."
Mamino, 23, was charged Friday in Monroe County, Ill., with the attempted first-degree murder of her newborn daughter, Victoria Goodrich. She may face additional charges in St. Clair County, Ill., after Belleville police discovered the decomposing body of a newborn last week in the home she shares with her boyfriend and Victoria.
Mamino works as a teacher’s aide for the Belleville Area Special School Cooperative. She works at Franklin School in a program with about 50 autistic children. BAASC Superintendent Christy Magnusen could not be reached for comment Monday on Mamino’s job status because of a school holiday.
Mamino was being held Monday in the Monroe County Jail, with bail set at $250,000. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison.
On Nov. 15, a Columbia police officer responded within five minutes to a 911 call and found the baby, Victoria, in the toilet. The officer assumed she was dead until seeing her move, Edwards said.
"The officer then tried to resuscitate the child. Emergency crews arrived, took the child to a hospital, where it began breathing again," Edwards said.
After the newborn was released from the hospital, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services returned her to Mamino. Edwards said he opposed the move strenuously. His detectives continued their criminal investigation, awaiting lab results and evidence processing.
Information uncovered by detectives led officers to Mamino’s Belleville home, where the remains of a decomposed infant were recovered Thursday, Belleville Police Capt. Don Sax said. That child was born in 2007, Sax said.
An autopsy was performed last week. Police did not release the sex of the baby.
"The investigative information will be forwarded to the St. Clair County state’s attorney for review upon completion," Sax said.
After Mamino’s arrest Friday, DCFS again took Victoria into custody, and she was placed with relatives, spokesman Kendall Marlowe said. Marlowe declined to respond to Edwards’ comments.
The Belleville News-Democrat requested access to the DCFS case file under a new law that allows news organizations to examine files in which criminal charges were brought in connection with the death or injury of a child.
The law resulted from the 2006 News-Democrat series "Lethal Lapses," which reported that 53 children died over seven years while in DCFS care because caseworkers failed to follow regulations, made serious errors or exhibited poor judgment.
One of the 53 children was Vanessa Ingram, who died in 2004 in a toilet in Venice, Ill. Her mother, Jaki Ingram, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services. She is not scheduled to be released until August 2024. Caseworkers had taken one of Ingram’s sons into protective custody in 1998, after finding evidence of abuse, but allowed another son, born the same year, to remain in her care. At the time of his sister’s death, the boy, by then age 5, was not potty-trained and was unable to speak.
Edwards said Monday he didn’t know what kind of services DCFS provided in Mamino’s case or whether caseworkers had visited her Belleville home, where the remains of the other newborn was found.
"I don’t know how they were supervising the case," he said. "We tried to stay in touch with the agency."
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/midwest/view.bg?articleid=1155954&format=text
BELLEVILLE, Ill. - A Belleville teacher’s aide is accused of trying to drown one newborn in a toilet after giving birth at a family party in Columbia, Ill., in November, and is being investigated in the death of another, whose decomposed body was discovered at her home last week.
Despite the protests of police, who argued that Elyse J. Mamino put her tiny daughter face-first in a water-filled toilet bowl and left her gasping for air and kicking her legs, child protection workers returned the child to her care until her arrest Friday.
"What more of a helpless victim can you have than a newborn infant?" Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said during a press conference Monday. "This is a very disturbing case."
Mamino, 23, was charged Friday in Monroe County, Ill., with the attempted first-degree murder of her newborn daughter, Victoria Goodrich. She may face additional charges in St. Clair County, Ill., after Belleville police discovered the decomposing body of a newborn last week in the home she shares with her boyfriend and Victoria.
Mamino works as a teacher’s aide for the Belleville Area Special School Cooperative. She works at Franklin School in a program with about 50 autistic children. BAASC Superintendent Christy Magnusen could not be reached for comment Monday on Mamino’s job status because of a school holiday.
Mamino was being held Monday in the Monroe County Jail, with bail set at $250,000. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison.
On Nov. 15, a Columbia police officer responded within five minutes to a 911 call and found the baby, Victoria, in the toilet. The officer assumed she was dead until seeing her move, Edwards said.
"The officer then tried to resuscitate the child. Emergency crews arrived, took the child to a hospital, where it began breathing again," Edwards said.
After the newborn was released from the hospital, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services returned her to Mamino. Edwards said he opposed the move strenuously. His detectives continued their criminal investigation, awaiting lab results and evidence processing.
Information uncovered by detectives led officers to Mamino’s Belleville home, where the remains of a decomposed infant were recovered Thursday, Belleville Police Capt. Don Sax said. That child was born in 2007, Sax said.
An autopsy was performed last week. Police did not release the sex of the baby.
"The investigative information will be forwarded to the St. Clair County state’s attorney for review upon completion," Sax said.
After Mamino’s arrest Friday, DCFS again took Victoria into custody, and she was placed with relatives, spokesman Kendall Marlowe said. Marlowe declined to respond to Edwards’ comments.
The Belleville News-Democrat requested access to the DCFS case file under a new law that allows news organizations to examine files in which criminal charges were brought in connection with the death or injury of a child.
The law resulted from the 2006 News-Democrat series "Lethal Lapses," which reported that 53 children died over seven years while in DCFS care because caseworkers failed to follow regulations, made serious errors or exhibited poor judgment.
One of the 53 children was Vanessa Ingram, who died in 2004 in a toilet in Venice, Ill. Her mother, Jaki Ingram, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services. She is not scheduled to be released until August 2024. Caseworkers had taken one of Ingram’s sons into protective custody in 1998, after finding evidence of abuse, but allowed another son, born the same year, to remain in her care. At the time of his sister’s death, the boy, by then age 5, was not potty-trained and was unable to speak.
Edwards said Monday he didn’t know what kind of services DCFS provided in Mamino’s case or whether caseworkers had visited her Belleville home, where the remains of the other newborn was found.
"I don’t know how they were supervising the case," he said. "We tried to stay in touch with the agency."
TX: Mother seeking answers after alleged special-ed child abuse
Posted: March 4, 2009 11:22 PM EST
By Kevin Davis
KILLEEN - Maria Morales didn't know what to do when she saw five-finger scratches up and down her child's back. Her son, Jose, told her that his teacher at Timber Ridge school in Killeen had been responsible.
She went to the principal but was told there was no way it could have been the teacher responsible. A psychologist morales had hired said her son had suffered a traumatic event, and now had become aggressive. According to Morales, even KISD employees had tried to intervene to help her son.
"A school employee called CPS to report my son was being mistreated at school. They found out they pushed him and hit him in the face."
After months of wrangling with KISD police, Killeen police, and the school, she finally was able to press charges. That's when Morales said the teacher was given a choice.
"They gave her the option to quit or be fired, and she quit", Morales said.
News Channel 25 spoke with KISD, who released a two-line statement:
"There was an investigation into the teacher in question. She has since resigned."
The school would not comment whether Morales' belief that the resignation had anything to do with the investigation, nor would they comment on the results of that investigation.
Morales is happy the teacher is gone from the school, but she wants an explanation for what happened. Her son has now become aggressive and is one suspension away from being expelled. She hopes that bringing this story to light will help explain why her son is acting out, and to keep her son in school.
News Channel 25 tried to locate the teacher in question for comment but was unsuccessful.
By Kevin Davis
KILLEEN - Maria Morales didn't know what to do when she saw five-finger scratches up and down her child's back. Her son, Jose, told her that his teacher at Timber Ridge school in Killeen had been responsible.
She went to the principal but was told there was no way it could have been the teacher responsible. A psychologist morales had hired said her son had suffered a traumatic event, and now had become aggressive. According to Morales, even KISD employees had tried to intervene to help her son.
"A school employee called CPS to report my son was being mistreated at school. They found out they pushed him and hit him in the face."
After months of wrangling with KISD police, Killeen police, and the school, she finally was able to press charges. That's when Morales said the teacher was given a choice.
"They gave her the option to quit or be fired, and she quit", Morales said.
News Channel 25 spoke with KISD, who released a two-line statement:
"There was an investigation into the teacher in question. She has since resigned."
The school would not comment whether Morales' belief that the resignation had anything to do with the investigation, nor would they comment on the results of that investigation.
Morales is happy the teacher is gone from the school, but she wants an explanation for what happened. Her son has now become aggressive and is one suspension away from being expelled. She hopes that bringing this story to light will help explain why her son is acting out, and to keep her son in school.
News Channel 25 tried to locate the teacher in question for comment but was unsuccessful.
MD: Parents Outraged Over Taping of Childrens' Mouths
posted 03/05/09 5:14 pm
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0309/601013.html
Prince George's County, Md. - For the second time in a week, Prince George's County students say their mouths were taped shut by teachers in an effort to keep them quiet.
"What day and age are we in when a teacher just tapes a child's mouth shut," asked Fanchon Christopher, a parent.
The first incident happened last week when a teacher's aid allegedly taped a student's mouth shut in the cafeteria of Flinstone Elementary School.
Now officials at Kingsford Elementary School say a third grade teacher is under investigation for placing masking tape on the mouths of seven students. The most recent incident came to light when another faculty member apparently spotted a little boy walking through the hall with his mouth covered in tape.
"A counselor stopped them and asked why and he said the teacher did it, so they brought the teacher to the office where the principal began to investigate," said John White with the Prince George's County school system.
"Tape on the mouth of the kids. What kind of human are we?" said Catarino Lopez, a parent.
Meanwhile, Parents are wondering what kind of disciplinary training the school system provides. The school system is sending home letters with students to inform parents of the alleged incidents and to inform them the school has reassigned both the teacher and aid to jobs away from children pending an investigation.
"Parent's don't even do that in this day and age - it's abuse. It is literally child abuse and that teacher should be let go," said an angry parent.
School officials say if they are found to have acted inappropriately they could face losing their jobs.
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0309/601013.html
Prince George's County, Md. - For the second time in a week, Prince George's County students say their mouths were taped shut by teachers in an effort to keep them quiet.
"What day and age are we in when a teacher just tapes a child's mouth shut," asked Fanchon Christopher, a parent.
The first incident happened last week when a teacher's aid allegedly taped a student's mouth shut in the cafeteria of Flinstone Elementary School.
Now officials at Kingsford Elementary School say a third grade teacher is under investigation for placing masking tape on the mouths of seven students. The most recent incident came to light when another faculty member apparently spotted a little boy walking through the hall with his mouth covered in tape.
"A counselor stopped them and asked why and he said the teacher did it, so they brought the teacher to the office where the principal began to investigate," said John White with the Prince George's County school system.
"Tape on the mouth of the kids. What kind of human are we?" said Catarino Lopez, a parent.
Meanwhile, Parents are wondering what kind of disciplinary training the school system provides. The school system is sending home letters with students to inform parents of the alleged incidents and to inform them the school has reassigned both the teacher and aid to jobs away from children pending an investigation.
"Parent's don't even do that in this day and age - it's abuse. It is literally child abuse and that teacher should be let go," said an angry parent.
School officials say if they are found to have acted inappropriately they could face losing their jobs.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Missing Person Report: Have You Seen William Van Croft?
Have you seen William Van Croft?
We just saw a news bulletin that 17 year old William Van Croft, who has Asperger's Syndrome disappeared on January 31, 2009 - the one year anniversary of his father's death.
Here's the police bulletin:
The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing person identified as 17-year-old William Vancroft. He was last seen at about 4:30 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2009 in the 1300 block of G Street, SE. (Washington D.C.)
William is described as a medium complexioned black male, 5’8” tall, weighing about 168 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a burgundy sweater.
He is in need of medication and may appear to be disoriented.
Anyone who has information regarding William Vancroft’s whereabouts is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.
And here's an update from his mother Jackie:
Posted by Jason Cherkis on Feb. 25, 2009, at 3:51 pm
This afternoon, I checked in with Jackie Van Croft. On January 31, her son William went missing. He’s still missing. William has Asperger’s Syndrome. He disappeared on the one-year anniversary of his father’s death.
“The police are working on all leads,” Van Croft says. “They have been getting tips, people have been calling in the tip line. They are responding to all leads. His case has not been forgotten. I know it seems like — I don’t know what other family members do, I’m trying to do what I can to protect my son.”
It’s hard to protect a missing son. “My son has been through a great deal and the family has been through a lot,” Van Croft says. “It’s really difficult to think about him being out there and not have the family to protect him. He had a mentor/therapist. He had lots of therapists. And of those people were there to help him grow. And help him to become a whole person, a wonderful person. Now, he’s out there.”
I ask Van Croft what a normal day is like now. “I just try to work,” she explains. “I still cook in a large quantity because I expect him to be coming in. I tend to pick up his favorite foods….Fridays are still devoted to wrestling. So are Mondays. Fridays are wrestling night and pizza.”
Today, Van Croft called her son’s school just to check in. “I try to give updates,” she says. “The kids are worried and they want their classmate back. I wanted to assure them that I feel he’s coming back.”
Van Croft drives by the places her son was last seen. She has two daughters. The youngest came home a few weeks ago with a tip. “A classmate thought he saw Billy on the bus,” Van Croft recalls, adding that her daughter had instructions on what to do with this tip: “Make sure you tell the police.”
“We’re keeping strong,” Van Croft says. “There have been some really good tips and we’re pushing forward. I will let you know when Billy comes home.”
NC: Teacher Charged With Attacking Colleague
NOTE: This is a story about teachers attacking each other in school. At least they went after each other instead of children??
Staff Writer
February 25, 2009
http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-teacher-attacks-colleague-090225,0,3633378.story
GREENSBORO N.C. - Police have charged a middle school teacher with slapping and threatening to kill another teacher.
Catherine Hazleton teaches sixth grade math and social studies at Mendenhall Middle School.
According to police, she got into an argument with a colleague Tuesday morning before classes started. Other employees reportedly had to separate the two.
Officers said the two were friends and the fight reportedly started over one of their family members.Hazleton is charged with simple assault and communicating threats.
Staff Writer
February 25, 2009
http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-teacher-attacks-colleague-090225,0,3633378.story
GREENSBORO N.C. - Police have charged a middle school teacher with slapping and threatening to kill another teacher.
Catherine Hazleton teaches sixth grade math and social studies at Mendenhall Middle School.
According to police, she got into an argument with a colleague Tuesday morning before classes started. Other employees reportedly had to separate the two.
Officers said the two were friends and the fight reportedly started over one of their family members.Hazleton is charged with simple assault and communicating threats.
OH: Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Student With Special Needs
By Denise Yost
Managing Editor, nbc4i.com
Published: February 25, 2009
http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/teacher_accused_of_assaulting_student_with_special_needs/13226/
GROVE CITY, Ohio—A Central Ohio teacher is in hot water after police said she assaulted a child with special needs at school.
The alleged incident occurred on Feb. 2 at Grove City High School, where police allege 40-year-old teacher Robin Hartman assaulted one of her students, NBC 4‘s Tom Brockman reported.
Witness reports indicated the incident began when Hartman and a student who has Asperger’s Syndrome began exchanging words.
The report said that when the student refused to get up from his desk and go into the hall, the teacher allegedly lifted his chair and forced him to stand before pushing him into the hallway while yelling at him.
When the student allegedly made an obscene remark to the teacher, she allegedly responded by saying, ‘You don’t talk to me like that,‘ grabbed him by the back of his neck and led him to the kitchen area of the classroom.
Witnesses then reported hearing a “thug” noise and saw Hartman slam the door.
When NBC 4 went to her Worthington home for comment on the allegations, she refused comment and asked that we speak to her attorney.
School officials said Hartman has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is conducted.
Managing Editor, nbc4i.com
Published: February 25, 2009
http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/teacher_accused_of_assaulting_student_with_special_needs/13226/
GROVE CITY, Ohio—A Central Ohio teacher is in hot water after police said she assaulted a child with special needs at school.
The alleged incident occurred on Feb. 2 at Grove City High School, where police allege 40-year-old teacher Robin Hartman assaulted one of her students, NBC 4‘s Tom Brockman reported.
Witness reports indicated the incident began when Hartman and a student who has Asperger’s Syndrome began exchanging words.
The report said that when the student refused to get up from his desk and go into the hall, the teacher allegedly lifted his chair and forced him to stand before pushing him into the hallway while yelling at him.
When the student allegedly made an obscene remark to the teacher, she allegedly responded by saying, ‘You don’t talk to me like that,‘ grabbed him by the back of his neck and led him to the kitchen area of the classroom.
Witnesses then reported hearing a “thug” noise and saw Hartman slam the door.
When NBC 4 went to her Worthington home for comment on the allegations, she refused comment and asked that we speak to her attorney.
School officials said Hartman has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is conducted.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sample Letter re Bullying & Harrassment
From Our Children Left Behind: http://ourchildrenleftbehind.yuku.com/topic/1608/t/Sample-Letter-re-Bullying-amp-Harrassment.html
Date:
To: (Principal and School)
Re:
To (Principal),
This letter is to immediately request that my son,_______, be afforded all the protections under state and federal law to protect him from physical harassment, discrimination, and verbal abuse. It is my understanding that he has a right to learn in a safe and harm-free educational environment.
I have read information at the following link and I understand what our rights are and what the school's duties are: www.ed.gov/about/offices/...ssltr.html . It is also my understanding that school personnel have a duty to facilitate his protection and fully investigate all allegations of discrimination he and others report. I am now requesting that you protect my child from the various forms of physical and verbal abuse he has suffered at your school.
I am requesting that this protection begin immediately. Please place a copy of this letter in my child's educational records. I will assume you are taking the appropriate action from this date forward. If I am incorrect, I request you immediately notify me at the following address:
Advocate/Parent name
address
city, state, zip
phone #
I trust my child's protection to you; please do not let me down.
Sincerely,
(Parents)
Date:
To: (Principal and School)
Re:
To (Principal),
This letter is to immediately request that my son,_______, be afforded all the protections under state and federal law to protect him from physical harassment, discrimination, and verbal abuse. It is my understanding that he has a right to learn in a safe and harm-free educational environment.
I have read information at the following link and I understand what our rights are and what the school's duties are: www.ed.gov/about/offices/...ssltr.html . It is also my understanding that school personnel have a duty to facilitate his protection and fully investigate all allegations of discrimination he and others report. I am now requesting that you protect my child from the various forms of physical and verbal abuse he has suffered at your school.
I am requesting that this protection begin immediately. Please place a copy of this letter in my child's educational records. I will assume you are taking the appropriate action from this date forward. If I am incorrect, I request you immediately notify me at the following address:
Advocate/Parent name
address
city, state, zip
phone #
I trust my child's protection to you; please do not let me down.
Sincerely,
(Parents)
Special Report: 1:1 Aides in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
This information comes directly from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' website and appears to be their public declaration - supposedly supported by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction - to discourage the addition of 1:1 aides in the classroom for exceptional needs children.
http://documents.cms.k12.nc.us/dsweb/View/Collection-2926 (Click on Additional Assistants link. This will open a PDF document.)
INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL ASSISTANTS
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools does not provide individual assistants (typically referred to as 1:1 assistants). Rather each school (with at least 1 full time EC teacher) already has an additional assistant based on the number of students who have a separate level of service.
DPI has advised CMS to eliminate the practice of adding 1:1 assistants on an IEP. Instead, the following should be written on the DEC 5 when additional support is needed to meet the needs of a student: “CMS will provide adequate personnel to fulfill the goals and objectives on the IEP.”
Schools should consider the following in meeting the needs of students with disabilities:
Current school staff must be considered as a whole when meeting the needs of students. It may require reallocating staff to ensure that student needs are met.
Requests for additional assistants based on physical needs will be considered through the Related Services Specialist (Naia Ward 980-343-2731 or n.ward@cms.k12.nc.us). If appropriate, additional staff allotments will be provided up front based on the students’ physical needs. The goal is to utilize existing school staff in the most effective manner and to maximize each student’s access to the general education environment.
If a school based IEP team chooses to place a 1:1 assistant on a student’s IEP, the school will be responsible for either funding the position or re-allocating current staff.
Assistance in allocating staff and implementing creative scheduling is available through the EC Department. Principals can contact the grade level specialist for their school to request this assistance.
Elementary - Adrienne Dohn 980-343-2717
adrienne.dohn@cms.k12.nc.us
Middle - Stacie Levi 980-343-6164
stacie.levi@cms.k12.nc.us
High - Valerie Morgan 980-343-2679
valerie.morgan@cms.k12.nc.us
If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact
Audrey Dillingham at 980-343-2686 or audrey.dillingham@cms.k12.nc.us
http://documents.cms.k12.nc.us/dsweb/View/Collection-2926 (Click on Additional Assistants link. This will open a PDF document.)
INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL ASSISTANTS
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools does not provide individual assistants (typically referred to as 1:1 assistants). Rather each school (with at least 1 full time EC teacher) already has an additional assistant based on the number of students who have a separate level of service.
DPI has advised CMS to eliminate the practice of adding 1:1 assistants on an IEP. Instead, the following should be written on the DEC 5 when additional support is needed to meet the needs of a student: “CMS will provide adequate personnel to fulfill the goals and objectives on the IEP.”
Schools should consider the following in meeting the needs of students with disabilities:
Current school staff must be considered as a whole when meeting the needs of students. It may require reallocating staff to ensure that student needs are met.
Requests for additional assistants based on physical needs will be considered through the Related Services Specialist (Naia Ward 980-343-2731 or n.ward@cms.k12.nc.us). If appropriate, additional staff allotments will be provided up front based on the students’ physical needs. The goal is to utilize existing school staff in the most effective manner and to maximize each student’s access to the general education environment.
If a school based IEP team chooses to place a 1:1 assistant on a student’s IEP, the school will be responsible for either funding the position or re-allocating current staff.
Assistance in allocating staff and implementing creative scheduling is available through the EC Department. Principals can contact the grade level specialist for their school to request this assistance.
Elementary - Adrienne Dohn 980-343-2717
adrienne.dohn@cms.k12.nc.us
Middle - Stacie Levi 980-343-6164
stacie.levi@cms.k12.nc.us
High - Valerie Morgan 980-343-2679
valerie.morgan@cms.k12.nc.us
If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact
Audrey Dillingham at 980-343-2686 or audrey.dillingham@cms.k12.nc.us
FL: Sarasota County School Board sued over abuse case
By Tiffany Lankes
Published: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 1:45 a.m.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090225/ARTICLE/902250344/-1/NEWSSITEMAP
SARASOTA - A former Venice High School student is suing the School Board, saying administrators ignored reports that coach James LaMorte was sexually abusing his students, enabling him to continue preying on victims.
A lawsuit filed in Sarasota County last week alleges that former Venice Principal Dan Parrett did not properly investigate early concerns that came to his attention. Parrett is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Adam Brum, the Tampa attorney representing the victim, said he believes that higher-ranking administrators at the school district also knew about problems and ignored them.
"This was something that for whatever reason was ignored," Brum said. "There are too many victims. Someone in that school knew about it."
Brum's client, who is now 35, is the first to file a lawsuit against the School Board because of the LaMorte case. His name is being withheld by the Herald-Tribune because the newspaper does not typically identify the victims of sexual abuse.
The lawsuit does not specify how much money he is seeking in damages.
It comes nearly three years after LaMorte was convicted and sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexually abusing male students, including fondling them and forcing them to perform oral sex.
The allegations against LaMorte dated as far back as 1978, three years after he started working as a swim coach at Venice High. The criminal investigation started in 2005, when one of LaMorte's victims went to the police.
As they investigated, police learned that one of the victims -- other than the one who filed the civil lawsuit -- came forward in 1991 with abuse allegations, but school officials dismissed the concerns and allowed LaMorte to keep teaching.
A 2005 school district investigation following LaMorte's arrest found that Parrett acted appropriately and cleared him of wrongdoing. He is now the principal at Oak Park School, the district's center for disabled students.
The complaint filed in court last week alleges that LaMorte physically and sexually abused the plaintiff when he was a student at Venice from 1990 to 1994.
According to the complaint, the student also went to Parrett and tried to report the abuse, but the principal dismissed his concern after conducting an investigation.
Parrett could not be reached for comment.
School Board attorney Art Hardy pointed out that the lawsuit is based on things that happened more than a decade ago, and said he expects that to become an issue in whether the victim can sue the district.
Brum, the plaintiff's attorney, says there is a state law that extends the statute of limitations in civil suits if the victim has repressed the memory of abuse. He said his client began to remember the abuse only after reading stories in the newspaper several years ago.
LaMorte is currently imprisoned at Taylor Correctional Institution in Perry.
The suit in the LaMorte case comes as the school district faces threats of other lawsuits pertaining to how it handled complaints that a former Venice Elementary School special education teacher was abusing students.
In that case, police learned that more than a dozen school employees had witnessed or were told of concerns about the teacher, Diana O'Neill, including the principal and a district administrator. Principal Theresa Baus talked to O'Neill twice about being too rough with the students and told her to be careful, but allowed her to keep teaching.
A jury acquitted O'Neill of four child abuse charges Feb. 13, but Superintendent Lori White has called for her dismissal for being too physically rough with students and making disparaging comments to them.
All of the parents of students who were allegedly abused have retained attorneys and say they plan to sue the district.
Published: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 1:45 a.m.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090225/ARTICLE/902250344/-1/NEWSSITEMAP
SARASOTA - A former Venice High School student is suing the School Board, saying administrators ignored reports that coach James LaMorte was sexually abusing his students, enabling him to continue preying on victims.
A lawsuit filed in Sarasota County last week alleges that former Venice Principal Dan Parrett did not properly investigate early concerns that came to his attention. Parrett is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Adam Brum, the Tampa attorney representing the victim, said he believes that higher-ranking administrators at the school district also knew about problems and ignored them.
"This was something that for whatever reason was ignored," Brum said. "There are too many victims. Someone in that school knew about it."
Brum's client, who is now 35, is the first to file a lawsuit against the School Board because of the LaMorte case. His name is being withheld by the Herald-Tribune because the newspaper does not typically identify the victims of sexual abuse.
The lawsuit does not specify how much money he is seeking in damages.
It comes nearly three years after LaMorte was convicted and sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexually abusing male students, including fondling them and forcing them to perform oral sex.
The allegations against LaMorte dated as far back as 1978, three years after he started working as a swim coach at Venice High. The criminal investigation started in 2005, when one of LaMorte's victims went to the police.
As they investigated, police learned that one of the victims -- other than the one who filed the civil lawsuit -- came forward in 1991 with abuse allegations, but school officials dismissed the concerns and allowed LaMorte to keep teaching.
A 2005 school district investigation following LaMorte's arrest found that Parrett acted appropriately and cleared him of wrongdoing. He is now the principal at Oak Park School, the district's center for disabled students.
The complaint filed in court last week alleges that LaMorte physically and sexually abused the plaintiff when he was a student at Venice from 1990 to 1994.
According to the complaint, the student also went to Parrett and tried to report the abuse, but the principal dismissed his concern after conducting an investigation.
Parrett could not be reached for comment.
School Board attorney Art Hardy pointed out that the lawsuit is based on things that happened more than a decade ago, and said he expects that to become an issue in whether the victim can sue the district.
Brum, the plaintiff's attorney, says there is a state law that extends the statute of limitations in civil suits if the victim has repressed the memory of abuse. He said his client began to remember the abuse only after reading stories in the newspaper several years ago.
LaMorte is currently imprisoned at Taylor Correctional Institution in Perry.
The suit in the LaMorte case comes as the school district faces threats of other lawsuits pertaining to how it handled complaints that a former Venice Elementary School special education teacher was abusing students.
In that case, police learned that more than a dozen school employees had witnessed or were told of concerns about the teacher, Diana O'Neill, including the principal and a district administrator. Principal Theresa Baus talked to O'Neill twice about being too rough with the students and told her to be careful, but allowed her to keep teaching.
A jury acquitted O'Neill of four child abuse charges Feb. 13, but Superintendent Lori White has called for her dismissal for being too physically rough with students and making disparaging comments to them.
All of the parents of students who were allegedly abused have retained attorneys and say they plan to sue the district.
IN: Cop Tasers autistic boy unconscious
Family sues police, school after 9-1-1 called during outburst
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89890
Posted: February 24, 2009
11:11 pm Eastern
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
The TASER X26, a top law enforcement model
The family of a 14-year-old autistic boy is suing police and his school after authorities Tasered him until he lost consciousness.
The student attended Creekside Middle School in Carmel, Ind., and remains unnamed in the complaint. He is described as having "affective disorder and has been diagnosed with autism, manic-depressive disorder and bipolar disorder."
According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, the boy's mother, Dianne Bell, was late dropping him off for school and called to tell the administration. However, the student received detention and became "frustrated and began to act out."
"During this outburst he is saying outrageous things," Bells' attorney, Ronald Frazier, told the Indianapolis Star. He said the student said he would call his gang as retaliation against his teachers.
"They know there is no gang there," Frazier said. "They know he has no way of acting on what he is saying. They are taking these idle threats and calling police."
The family claims the school district did not abide by established procedures for dealing with the outbursts
"When a child like (the Bells' son) starts to have emotional problems, the (individual procedure) is supposed to be followed," Frazier told the Star. "It has specific steps that are to be taken in order to keep the child from melting totally down."
The administration dialed 9-1-1 instead
The family claims Carmel police officer Matthew Kinkade restrained the 5-foot, 90-pound boy and forced him onto a bench in the school lobby. When his outburst continued, the officer allegedly Tasered the boy two times – leaving him unconscious.
"Officer Kinkade used unreasonable and excessive force by failing to follow policies and procedures that were in place for dealing with autistic children," according to the complaint.
The Police Department claims the school never notified officers of the boy's condition, although school officials say they did.
"Autistic children have a great difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they don't understand social cues," Frazier told the Star. "(The Bell child) gets confronted with violence, with Tasers, and he is flipping out because of his sensory overload."
Noblesville Police Department Lt. Bruce Barnes trains officers in the use of Tasers.
"You can use the Taser anytime anybody is punching, kicking or threatening to punch or kick," Barnes said. "We can use it when we tell someone to do something, they refuse, lesser-force options are not available and they are a credible threat to you."
Barnes wouldn't speculate about whether the autistic boy actually posed a legitimate threat to police, according to the report.
Sheila Wolfe, director of the Indianapolis-based Autism Education and Training Center, told the Star school officials and police who responded to the outburst actually made it worse.
"You need to step away and leave them alone so that they can decompress," she said. "I have a hard time believing that a trained officer would Taser a child with a disability if they fully understood the situation they were walking into.
"I know from experience that the people in Carmel (Clay schools) know better. As a school system, they have the expertise and they have the people available that know better. I'm surprised."
The Bell family is now suing the Carmel Police Department, officer Matthew Kinkade and Carmel Clay Schools. They are seeking damages for medical expenses, pain, suffering and mental anguish.
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=89890
Posted: February 24, 2009
11:11 pm Eastern
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
The TASER X26, a top law enforcement model
The family of a 14-year-old autistic boy is suing police and his school after authorities Tasered him until he lost consciousness.
The student attended Creekside Middle School in Carmel, Ind., and remains unnamed in the complaint. He is described as having "affective disorder and has been diagnosed with autism, manic-depressive disorder and bipolar disorder."
According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, the boy's mother, Dianne Bell, was late dropping him off for school and called to tell the administration. However, the student received detention and became "frustrated and began to act out."
"During this outburst he is saying outrageous things," Bells' attorney, Ronald Frazier, told the Indianapolis Star. He said the student said he would call his gang as retaliation against his teachers.
"They know there is no gang there," Frazier said. "They know he has no way of acting on what he is saying. They are taking these idle threats and calling police."
The family claims the school district did not abide by established procedures for dealing with the outbursts
"When a child like (the Bells' son) starts to have emotional problems, the (individual procedure) is supposed to be followed," Frazier told the Star. "It has specific steps that are to be taken in order to keep the child from melting totally down."
The administration dialed 9-1-1 instead
The family claims Carmel police officer Matthew Kinkade restrained the 5-foot, 90-pound boy and forced him onto a bench in the school lobby. When his outburst continued, the officer allegedly Tasered the boy two times – leaving him unconscious.
"Officer Kinkade used unreasonable and excessive force by failing to follow policies and procedures that were in place for dealing with autistic children," according to the complaint.
The Police Department claims the school never notified officers of the boy's condition, although school officials say they did.
"Autistic children have a great difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they don't understand social cues," Frazier told the Star. "(The Bell child) gets confronted with violence, with Tasers, and he is flipping out because of his sensory overload."
Noblesville Police Department Lt. Bruce Barnes trains officers in the use of Tasers.
"You can use the Taser anytime anybody is punching, kicking or threatening to punch or kick," Barnes said. "We can use it when we tell someone to do something, they refuse, lesser-force options are not available and they are a credible threat to you."
Barnes wouldn't speculate about whether the autistic boy actually posed a legitimate threat to police, according to the report.
Sheila Wolfe, director of the Indianapolis-based Autism Education and Training Center, told the Star school officials and police who responded to the outburst actually made it worse.
"You need to step away and leave them alone so that they can decompress," she said. "I have a hard time believing that a trained officer would Taser a child with a disability if they fully understood the situation they were walking into.
"I know from experience that the people in Carmel (Clay schools) know better. As a school system, they have the expertise and they have the people available that know better. I'm surprised."
The Bell family is now suing the Carmel Police Department, officer Matthew Kinkade and Carmel Clay Schools. They are seeking damages for medical expenses, pain, suffering and mental anguish.
MO:Mapaville parents to file complaint against school nurse
Lawsuit filed in federal court
By Chris CampbellTuesday, February 24, 2009 3:14 AM CST
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/02/25/jefferson/news/0225jef-map0.txt
A group of parents involved in a federal lawsuit alleging abuse of special needs students at Mapaville State School plan to file an additional complaint against a school nurse.
Craig Henning, an advocate for the disabled with the Crystal City-based Disability Resource Association (DRA), said multiple parents will file complaints with the Missouri State Nursing Board against Sally Forshee, a school nurse employed by the Mapaville State School.
The school has been at the center of controversy for almost one year, after secretly recorded audiotapes revealed what Henning and many parents believe is abuse and neglect.
Most of the children educated at the Mapaville State School are profoundly disabled, and many cannot communicate clearly.
Mapaville is one of more than 30 such schools across the state.
A lawsuit recently filed in federal court by Scott and the parents of eight other students is asking the court to fire implicated staffers, install classroom cameras and eventually dismantle the entire state school system.
After becoming concerned with the quality of care their children were receiving, several parents placed recording devices in their children's backpacks.
After listening to the tapes, some of the parents expressed shock over their content.
"I was in disbelief, just disbelief," said Sheila Scott, whose son, Chandler Scott, was featured prominently on the tape. "I couldn't believe these people who loved and cared for my son would treat him this way."
More than 40 hours of tape was eventually turned over the the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for investigation.
While no criminal charges were issued, the tapes became evidence in a series of due process hearings for parents who filed abuse complaints against the district.
The incident that Scott found most troubling was the repeated ringing of a bell near her 12-year-old son's face by Forshee.
After saying "watch me send him into a seizure," Forshee rang the bell an estimated 30 times.
Scott said other school staffers present laughed.
When called to give evidence before a panel hearing, Forshee admitted she knew such behavior could trigger seizures.
Chandler Scott suffers from epilepsy.
Jill Randall, whose son Blake is a classmate of Chandler Scott, is outraged that district officials have not fired staff members facing abuse allegations.
"We are all making complaints," she said.
When reached by phone, Forshee declined to comment, referring questions to Charlie Taylor, superintendent of state schools.
When asked why Forshee remained employed, Taylor declined to answer, citing ongoing litigation and personnel issues.
Henning said he believes the reason for the state's unwillingness to act is obvious - liability.
"They don't want to admit wrongdoing," he said.
Scott, a former aide at Mapaville who said her suspicions were initially aroused when she picked up her son and found him covered in dried urine, said she is unwilling [to] return her child to school barring drastic changes.
"Our trust is shattered," she said.
By Chris CampbellTuesday, February 24, 2009 3:14 AM CST
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/02/25/jefferson/news/0225jef-map0.txt
A group of parents involved in a federal lawsuit alleging abuse of special needs students at Mapaville State School plan to file an additional complaint against a school nurse.
Craig Henning, an advocate for the disabled with the Crystal City-based Disability Resource Association (DRA), said multiple parents will file complaints with the Missouri State Nursing Board against Sally Forshee, a school nurse employed by the Mapaville State School.
The school has been at the center of controversy for almost one year, after secretly recorded audiotapes revealed what Henning and many parents believe is abuse and neglect.
Most of the children educated at the Mapaville State School are profoundly disabled, and many cannot communicate clearly.
Mapaville is one of more than 30 such schools across the state.
A lawsuit recently filed in federal court by Scott and the parents of eight other students is asking the court to fire implicated staffers, install classroom cameras and eventually dismantle the entire state school system.
After becoming concerned with the quality of care their children were receiving, several parents placed recording devices in their children's backpacks.
After listening to the tapes, some of the parents expressed shock over their content.
"I was in disbelief, just disbelief," said Sheila Scott, whose son, Chandler Scott, was featured prominently on the tape. "I couldn't believe these people who loved and cared for my son would treat him this way."
More than 40 hours of tape was eventually turned over the the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for investigation.
While no criminal charges were issued, the tapes became evidence in a series of due process hearings for parents who filed abuse complaints against the district.
The incident that Scott found most troubling was the repeated ringing of a bell near her 12-year-old son's face by Forshee.
After saying "watch me send him into a seizure," Forshee rang the bell an estimated 30 times.
Scott said other school staffers present laughed.
When called to give evidence before a panel hearing, Forshee admitted she knew such behavior could trigger seizures.
Chandler Scott suffers from epilepsy.
Jill Randall, whose son Blake is a classmate of Chandler Scott, is outraged that district officials have not fired staff members facing abuse allegations.
"We are all making complaints," she said.
When reached by phone, Forshee declined to comment, referring questions to Charlie Taylor, superintendent of state schools.
When asked why Forshee remained employed, Taylor declined to answer, citing ongoing litigation and personnel issues.
Henning said he believes the reason for the state's unwillingness to act is obvious - liability.
"They don't want to admit wrongdoing," he said.
Scott, a former aide at Mapaville who said her suspicions were initially aroused when she picked up her son and found him covered in dried urine, said she is unwilling [to] return her child to school barring drastic changes.
"Our trust is shattered," she said.
MO: Lawmaker wants ban on seclusion rooms for children with disabilities
NOTE: Some good news out of MO today! Please join us in thanking Senator Scott Rupp for introducing this bill!
By Jessica Bock
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/25/2009
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/5CA322572E543BB486257568000DD2F8?OpenDocument
School seclusion rooms for children with disabilities would be banned under a bill introduced Tuesday by state Sen. Scott Rupp.
He said he wanted to eliminate the rooms "until the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education can prove they serve a worthwhile purpose."
"If they serve a purpose, then we need to have some type of rules governing their use," said Rupp, R-Wentzville.
The measure also calls on the state education department to regulate the use of restraint and timeouts for students receiving special education services.
The proposal comes after two St. Charles County families spoke out last week against the rooms. Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services, a federally funded law firm, is investigating the parents' allegations of abuse and neglect against the Francis Howell School District. The district says that parents knew about the use of the rooms and that nothing improper was done.
In the St. Louis area, the Special School District, which provides special education services to students with disabilities who live in St. Louis County, uses what they call "secure observation rooms" for a child's safety if allowed in a plan approved by parents.
Some other area districts use similar methods.
Rupp's bill defines seclusion as a behavior management technique in which a student is confined in a locked box, locked closet or locked room designed solely to seclude a person and containing less than 50 square feet of space.
Most of the rooms used in the Special School District are 6 feet by 6 feet, or 36 square feet. In the Francis Howell School District, the room at Hollenbeck Middle School at the center of one of the complaints is 9 feet 2 inches by 5 feet 7 inches, or a little more than 45 square feet.
Last week, Francis Howell Superintendent Renée Schuster showed the room at Hollenbeck to reporters. She said the timeout rooms were safe and were used only as a last resort as part of a student's individual education plan when behavior caused him or her to be a danger to themselves or others. She echoed that Tuesday in a written statement in response to the bill. "The district believes that it is important to keep all kids safe and will continue to do what is best for each individual child," she said.
jbock@post-dispatch.com 636-255-7208
By Jessica Bock
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/25/2009
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/5CA322572E543BB486257568000DD2F8?OpenDocument
School seclusion rooms for children with disabilities would be banned under a bill introduced Tuesday by state Sen. Scott Rupp.
He said he wanted to eliminate the rooms "until the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education can prove they serve a worthwhile purpose."
"If they serve a purpose, then we need to have some type of rules governing their use," said Rupp, R-Wentzville.
The measure also calls on the state education department to regulate the use of restraint and timeouts for students receiving special education services.
The proposal comes after two St. Charles County families spoke out last week against the rooms. Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services, a federally funded law firm, is investigating the parents' allegations of abuse and neglect against the Francis Howell School District. The district says that parents knew about the use of the rooms and that nothing improper was done.
In the St. Louis area, the Special School District, which provides special education services to students with disabilities who live in St. Louis County, uses what they call "secure observation rooms" for a child's safety if allowed in a plan approved by parents.
Some other area districts use similar methods.
Rupp's bill defines seclusion as a behavior management technique in which a student is confined in a locked box, locked closet or locked room designed solely to seclude a person and containing less than 50 square feet of space.
Most of the rooms used in the Special School District are 6 feet by 6 feet, or 36 square feet. In the Francis Howell School District, the room at Hollenbeck Middle School at the center of one of the complaints is 9 feet 2 inches by 5 feet 7 inches, or a little more than 45 square feet.
Last week, Francis Howell Superintendent Renée Schuster showed the room at Hollenbeck to reporters. She said the timeout rooms were safe and were used only as a last resort as part of a student's individual education plan when behavior caused him or her to be a danger to themselves or others. She echoed that Tuesday in a written statement in response to the bill. "The district believes that it is important to keep all kids safe and will continue to do what is best for each individual child," she said.
jbock@post-dispatch.com 636-255-7208
Monday, February 23, 2009
GA: School board announces penalties in paddling case
By Jeff Findley (Contact) The Post-Searchlight
Published Friday, February 20, 2009
http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/news/2009/feb/20/school-board-announces-penalties-paddling-case/
Before a standing-room-only crowd and an hour-and-a-half-long closed session Thursday night, the Decatur County Board of Education announced disciplinary action against Jeanette Grimsley, assistant principal at Potter Street Elementary School.
The action stems from a Feb. 6 case of excessive use of corporal punishment on a third-grade student at the school.
An investigation of the incident has been ongoing since the actions of Grimsley came to light on Feb. 9. Superintendent Ralph Jones, along with Dr. Linda Lumpkin, assistant superintendent for Human Resources, led the investigation. Interviews with witnesses to the three different instances that Grimsley paddled the student were conducted during the investigation. The incident was also reported to the Bainbridge Police Department and the Decatur County Sheriff's Department.
Although the penalties were announced by the board and considered final, Sheriff Wiley Griffin indicated that his department's investigation is ongoing.
“After considerable deliberation and a thorough investigation by our staff and Mr. Jones, we have concluded that the employee used poor judgment while administering corporal punishment to the student,” Dr. Sydney Cochran, chairman of the board, said before announcing the penalties in the form of a motion.
The disciplinary actions include a 10-day suspension without pay from Feb. 20 and concluding on March 6, a prohibition from using corporal punishment while an employee of the Decatur County Board of Education, a mandate to attend professional development on alternative disciplinary procedures, placement of official disciplinary documentation in the employee's personnel file, and a possible review of the employee's certification status.
The motion, seconded by Jacky Grubbs, passed on affirmative votes by Cochran, Grubbs, Bobby Barber and Randall Jones. Board members Winston Rollins and Clarissa Kendrick abstained from the vote. While Rollins declined comment on the reason for the abstention, Kendrick said “I would have liked to have heard first-hand from the witnesses in this case. The only thing we had to consider is what the Superintendent gave us second-hand.”
After the penalties were announced and approved, Cochran summarized the board's sentiment of the unfortunate incident.
“This has been a difficult situation. Mrs. Grimsley has had an immaculate record, and as far as I'm concerned, and I think I speak for this group, her record speaks for itself.” Cochran said.
“I think this an isolated case of poor judgment on her part, and I don't think anyone sitting in this room tonight can say that they haven't made a mistake in their lives. By the same token, we're here to safeguard our school children. We can't tolerate those kinds of mistakes,” Cochran continued.
A written release was provided by the Board that indicated that Grimsley's 13-year unblemished career with the county system and the feeling that no malice or intent to harm was involved was considered in determining the punishment. The release also indicated that Grimsley has apologized to all parties involved in the case.
The decision to suspend all use of corporal punishment, originally made by Jones immediately after the incident, has been continued until further notice. Additionally, a full review and amendment of the county's official corporal punishment policy is expected.
Published Friday, February 20, 2009
http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/news/2009/feb/20/school-board-announces-penalties-paddling-case/
Before a standing-room-only crowd and an hour-and-a-half-long closed session Thursday night, the Decatur County Board of Education announced disciplinary action against Jeanette Grimsley, assistant principal at Potter Street Elementary School.
The action stems from a Feb. 6 case of excessive use of corporal punishment on a third-grade student at the school.
An investigation of the incident has been ongoing since the actions of Grimsley came to light on Feb. 9. Superintendent Ralph Jones, along with Dr. Linda Lumpkin, assistant superintendent for Human Resources, led the investigation. Interviews with witnesses to the three different instances that Grimsley paddled the student were conducted during the investigation. The incident was also reported to the Bainbridge Police Department and the Decatur County Sheriff's Department.
Although the penalties were announced by the board and considered final, Sheriff Wiley Griffin indicated that his department's investigation is ongoing.
“After considerable deliberation and a thorough investigation by our staff and Mr. Jones, we have concluded that the employee used poor judgment while administering corporal punishment to the student,” Dr. Sydney Cochran, chairman of the board, said before announcing the penalties in the form of a motion.
The disciplinary actions include a 10-day suspension without pay from Feb. 20 and concluding on March 6, a prohibition from using corporal punishment while an employee of the Decatur County Board of Education, a mandate to attend professional development on alternative disciplinary procedures, placement of official disciplinary documentation in the employee's personnel file, and a possible review of the employee's certification status.
The motion, seconded by Jacky Grubbs, passed on affirmative votes by Cochran, Grubbs, Bobby Barber and Randall Jones. Board members Winston Rollins and Clarissa Kendrick abstained from the vote. While Rollins declined comment on the reason for the abstention, Kendrick said “I would have liked to have heard first-hand from the witnesses in this case. The only thing we had to consider is what the Superintendent gave us second-hand.”
After the penalties were announced and approved, Cochran summarized the board's sentiment of the unfortunate incident.
“This has been a difficult situation. Mrs. Grimsley has had an immaculate record, and as far as I'm concerned, and I think I speak for this group, her record speaks for itself.” Cochran said.
“I think this an isolated case of poor judgment on her part, and I don't think anyone sitting in this room tonight can say that they haven't made a mistake in their lives. By the same token, we're here to safeguard our school children. We can't tolerate those kinds of mistakes,” Cochran continued.
A written release was provided by the Board that indicated that Grimsley's 13-year unblemished career with the county system and the feeling that no malice or intent to harm was involved was considered in determining the punishment. The release also indicated that Grimsley has apologized to all parties involved in the case.
The decision to suspend all use of corporal punishment, originally made by Jones immediately after the incident, has been continued until further notice. Additionally, a full review and amendment of the county's official corporal punishment policy is expected.
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