District Confirms “Incident”; Details Slim
by Heather McDonald City-Times Staff
Stevens Point Area Public School District officials confirmed Wednesday they are investigating an “incident” between a district employee and a student that occurred earlier this month.
Officials would not, however, release any specifics.
“We have rights of the employee and rights of the students and we have to balance the two,” Superintendent Attila Weninger said. “We are continuing the investigation.”
The incident involved a male employee and a male student, he said, and the employee has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
As of Wednesday, Weninger said the employee has been on leave for about 10 days – since the incident was reported. The employee will remain on leave until the investigation is completed, district officials determine what to do, and the school board is provided a recommendation, he said.
He did not give a date the incident occurred, nor could Weninger estimate the length of time the investigation would continue.
Weninger added the incident was “non-sexual in nature.” He would not disclose the seriousness of the incident, but indicated no one is in any danger.
“The employee has been placed on administrative leave and the investigation is continuing. We would never, never put students at risk in a situation like this when an investigation is ongoing if we believed something could happen,” he said.
“I want to reiterate: No student is in danger regarding this employee or this incident.”
Weninger would not say how long the employee has been with the district or his duration working in education.
The district’s policy regarding reporting of any incidents includes contacting police if a criminal act is suspected and/or Portage County Health and Human Services Department if there is any suspicion of abuse or neglect. As of Wednesday, no police report has been filed, and it was not clear whether Health and Human Services would be contacted. Making those calls “depends on the situation and whatever we know at the time (officials are notified of the incident),” Weninger said.
The school principal contacted the student’s parents the evening of the day the incident occurred, Weninger said. Since that contact, the district has learned new information and as the investigation continues, officials expect more will emerge, he said.
There was a witness, he added.
Board President Dwight Stevens said parents will be provided as much information as possible during the investigation.
“Openness and a close working relationship with the parents is of the utmost in importance,” he said. “I am going to be looking into the issue as the administration prepares a recommendation to the Board.”
The family could not be reached for comment.
District officials would not disclose whether the incident was physical in nature. In an interview with WSAW News Channel 7, the student’s mother confirmed he is a special- needs 7 year- old, and the incident took place during regular school hours. The mother added she did not know the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Elementary school officials also would not release information, instead referring all matters to the district office.
Special Education Services Supervisor Donnell Pagel deferred comment to the superintendent.
Director of Elementary Education Mary Jo Lechner and Director of Student Services Gregory Nyen could not be reached for comment regarding the district’s training and in-services for staff as it relates to student behavior or any training the district does with staff who have contact with special needs students.