NEWS
Wichita Falls’ Police arrest of two teachers focuses attention on reporting possible child abuse
By BARBARA GREEN
The separate arrests of two school principals in the Wichita Falls School District during the past two weeks on complaints of failure to report sexual assault of a minor has led to questions and discussion on the legal obligations school personnel and others have in reporting incidents involving minors.
The Kory Dorman, Wichita Falls Crockett Elementary principal, was arrested on Jan. 31 for failure to report- a Class A misdemeanor. The charge stems from a Dec. 15 alleged incident involving a seven-year-old boy whose grandparents said he had been assaulted by a fellow six-year-old student while in the bathroom. Principal. Dorman reportedly told police she delegated the responsibility of investigating these allegations to the school counselor.
The second arrest came on Feb. 5 when Cindy Underwood, principal at Kate Haynes Northwest Academy, was jailed on a similar charge of failing to report.
In Texas, anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report it.
Professional reporters are required to report allegations within 48 hours of first suspecting abuse or neglect. By law, professional may not delegate the duty to report to another person or entity or rely on another person or entity to make the report.
A professional reporter is anyone who is licensed or certified by the state or works for an agency or facility license or certified by the state and has contact with children as a result of their normal duties. This includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care workers, clinic or health care facility employees where reproductive services are provided, juvenile probation officers and juvenile detention or correction officers.
Denise Roberts, executive director of Patsy’s House Child Advocacy Center, said they are hoping to turn these arrests into educational opportunities.
“We hate that it happened like this, but if we can keep children at the front, make it about them, everyone can lear nsomething we are all better off in the end. Take this opportunity and move forward,” said Roberts.
Bowie Independent School District Superintendent Steven Monkres said the district conducts regular training programs on this topic.
The district is part of the Safe Schools program where each employee is required to train on modules available online before each school year starts. Principals and counselors also meet with the staff to further emphasize the laws and policies.
Monkres said the Wichita Falls incidents make everyone refocus their attention on those topics.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
Click below to follow the link to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – Reporting Abuse/Neglect: A Guide for Professionals
https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Reporting_Guide_School_Professionals.pdf
Click below to follow a link to the Bowie Independent School District policies regard reporting possible child abuse.
Bowie fire and police emergency personnel responded to this structure fire call around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. No details were available at this time on a possible cause, possibly from trash inside the station or inside a vehicle. (News photo by Barbara Green)
Gregory Bell, 58, Saint Jo, was found guilty of the murder of Tia Hutson, 50, also of Saint Jo after less than an hour of jury deliberation Thursday afternoon.
She was found beaten and raped in her home in August 2022 and six days later never regaining consciousness. The jury also deliberated Bell’s sentence giving him the maximum life in prison and a $10,000 find. It took them less than half an hour to make the decision. A deadly finding also determined a large flashlight was used as a deadly weapon.
As the jury left the courtroom some members were seen hugging Trevor Riley, Tia Hutson’s son. His sister Kami Taylor, read a powerful victim’s statement to the court.
Staff and volunteers at the Bowie Mission continue to be plagued by people who dump their unwanted furniture and other items at their gates and doors. Despite having signs stating this is illegal and that there are surveillance cameras on scene, dumpers don’t seem to be phased.
This past week several large pieces of furniture were dumped right in front of the gate where the trailer used to go pick up food bank items is stored. Cynthia Brewer, director said most of the volunteers are older and it is difficult to get these large items moved out of the way. She is at her wit’s end trying to get people to stop dumping and while she hesitates to file police charges the situation is getting untenable as people continue to violate the policy.
Anyone who observes illegal dumping at the mission is urged to call the police 872-2251.
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