Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 11, 1993 TAG: 9306110338
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
While the board took no action and made no comment following its hour-long meeting, at least two board members said earlier this week they hope to resolve the issue soon - before Superintendent Frank Tota leaves, and the new superintendent, E. Wayne Harris, takes over July 1.
But another board member pledged her support for Shepherd and said others should likewise stand behind him.
"My statement is I am in support of Mr. Shepherd, who may have made a poor call in judgment but is doing a wonderful job as principal of Hurt Park School," Marilyn Curtis said Wednesday.
"His black, male image is of importance to our community, and unless something further shows up of which I am unaware, I pledge my support to him," she said.
Board members Don Poff and Wendy O'Neil declined to state their positions on what action, if any, the board should take regarding Shepherd. Nor would Chairman Finn Pincus discuss the case.
But Poff said whatever the board does, it should do it before Tota leaves.
O'Neil would say only that Tota should resolve all situations that came up during his tenure.
"If it happens on his watch, he needs to take care of it and not leave it for the next superintendent," she said.
The purpose of Thursday's meeting was to find out what recommendations, if any, Tota had for the board and what school administrators found during their investigation, Poff said Wednesday.
But neither Tota nor anyone from his administration attended the meeting. Pincus said administration representatives were available to speak to the board had they needed to hear from them, but they did not.
Contacted Wednesday, Tota refused to say what recommendations he might make to the board or whether he would try to wrap up the matter before he leaves for Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., where he takes over as superintendent July 1.
"I think any recommendations I'll have will be with the board, and I can't share that with you at this time," he said.
At its June 1 meeting, the board postponed a decision about Shepherd's reappointment as Hurt Park Elementary principal. His trial has been set for June 14 in Roanoke General District Court.
Failure to report suspected child abuse is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine for a first offense and up to $1,000 fine for multiple offenses.
Virginia law requires teachers, principals and others who come into frequent contact with children to report suspicions of abuse "immediately" to Child Protective Services. As of July 1, however, the law will require suspicions reported within 72 hours.
The law allows some institutions, such as schools and hospitals, to set up reporting procedures that channel suspicions through superiors. Roanoke schools follow such a policy, which directs teachers to take their suspicions to the principal.
Authorities have said Shepherd never reported the suspicions of four Hurt Park teachers who told him an 11-year-old girl came to school April 27 with unusual bruises covering her face. Child Protective Services learned of the suspected abuse from one of the child's relatives later that day.
The girl's mother has been charged with child abuse.
by CNB