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Thursday, July 07, 2005
Butler County Reform School Fires 4 Workers
After Youth is Injured
By Barbara White Stack,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Butler County reform
school yesterday fired four staff members who were working together
on June 18 when a 17-year-old West Virginia youth suffered slash
wounds to his face and ear requiring more than 20 stitches.
Joseph Daugerdas, a
spokesman for the nonprofit corporation that operates The Summit
Academy in Herman, said state Department of Public Welfare officials
told the school yesterday that the state's investigation indicated
one of the workers abused the boy.
The Summit Academy initially
told state investigators that Devon Cooper, of Charles Town, lost
his balance and fell into a glass cover on a fire hose cabinet.
But officials at Children's
Hospital, where the boy was treated, reported to the Welfare
Department that they suspected abuse.
Daugerdas said state
officials informed the academy yesterday that it determined an
allegation of abuse against worker Dave Akers is "indicated,"
meaning the department feels there is evidence that it is true.
Typically, officials with
the state Department of Public Welfare do not take the more serious
step of determining that an allegation is "founded" unless a worker
is convicted of abuse charges in criminal court.
State police in Butler are
investigating the incident.
In addition to Akers, the
academy fired worker Joe Vacanti, who, according to the report filed
by the school with the state, confronted Cooper about entering
another student's room after "lights out."
Daugerdas has said, however,
that Vacanti never touched Cooper.
In addition, the school
terminated two other staff members, who Daugerdas declined to
identify.
He said there were several
reasons for the mass firing. "We were not sure if people were giving
us the right information," he said.
The academy's investigation
indicated that the school's procedures were not followed, he said.
Daugerdas said the school
holds all staff members responsible for what occurs on their shift.
It was felt, he said, that those not directly involved could have
been more vigilant in intervening to prevent the situation.
"It should not have
escalated to where it did simply because someone went into someone
else's room," Daugerdas said.
"It sends a message that
this will not be tolerated."
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(Barbara White Stack can be
reached at bwhitestack@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1878.)
Link to article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05188/534157.stm
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