South-Western school board returns Buckeye Woods Elementary principal in student exam case
After a brief executive session, the South-Western City School District Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to approve a settlement agreement that returns Buckeye Woods Elementary School principal Jenniffer Kauffeld to work Tuesday and rescinds termination proceedings.
Kauffeld had been placed on unpaid leave since Jan. 8 after allegations arose that a school nurse conducted an improper medical examination of a 5-year-old while Kauffeld was present and without the parents' consent. The child's parents were not notified until later that day, but not by the nurse or Kauffeld.
The same board that voted to rescind Kauffeld's termination proceedings previously had voted 4-1 to begin them. No explanation was given for the reversal.
“Over the course of the past few months, the district administration and two different boards of education have spent significant time engaged in this personnel matter,” Chris Boso, South-Western school board president, said in a prepared release. "While the road leading up to tonight’s decision to reinstate the principal has been lengthy and emotional for all parties, as a board, we wanted to leave no stone unturned in terms of a timeline when it comes to matters impacting both employees and student supervision and welfare."
"We welcome back Mrs. Kauffeld to Buckeye Woods Elementary School starting (Tuesday),” he said.
Supporters of Kauffeld, who was seated in the front of the packed audience, cheered after the board's decision. The school board treasurer has been authorized to pay Kauffeld $5,000 for her lost wages between Jan. 9 and Jan. 30.
The nurse and Kauffeld were originally placed on administrative leave on Nov. 14, a few hours after the district learned of the nurse's examination of the child. The nurse, Deborah Dent, has since rescinded her resignation and hired an attorney.
Buckeye Woods initially referred the case to Grove City police and Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. It also notified the Ohio Board of Nursing, Ohio Department of Education and Franklin County Children’s Services. Neither the nurse nor Kauffeld faced any criminal charges in the matter which was initially believed to involve child or sexual abuse, officials had said.
It is still not precisely clear what board policies the employees were believed to have violated.
Employees who suspect child or sexual abuse are required to report it. According to the district's policy handbook:
"The nurse or appropriate building personnel should interview the child, a physical assessment should be made to describe the injuries. If the suspected area of injury involves a private area such as the buttocks or genital area, another professional should be present for the examination."
Evan Debo, schools spokesman, called the situation "messy," complicated by health and student privacy laws.
"As all these things drag out, it's emotional and stressful," he said. The school board has agreed to review its policies, specifically those dealing with suspected abuse.
He said Kauffeld's case could still be reviewed by the Ohio Department of Education for licensure considerations.
"We have no idea if they will at this point," Debo said.
Dispatch Reporter Dean Narciso contributed to this report
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: South-Western school principal can return to work after board vote
