Berkeley County school employee faces battery, assault of a disabled child charges

MARTINSURG, W.Va. — A staff member at Opequon Elementary School in Berkeley County has been charged with assault and battery of a disabled child.

Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ron Stephens made the announcement Friday.

“Please recognize that as a school district, we cannot share the same types of details that a law enforcement agency or organization may be able to share,” Stephens said in a statement. “Our school district is bound by student and personnel laws and cannot jeopardize sharing information that is not our information to share.”

On Dec. 5, a school employee reported an incident involving a staff member and a student to school administration. The incident was then reported to the state Department of Health and Human Resources and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.

The staff member was immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave while the incident pending an investigation, according to Opequon Elementary Principal Dr. Krista Ematrudo.

“I have been informed that the staff member under investigation has been charged with assault and battery of a disabled child which is the direct result of the mandated report. It is important for you to know that the parents of all students impacted were notified of the incident by telephone. While I cannot share additional details as this is both a legal and personnel matter, please know that I will continue to put the safety of our students as a top priority,” Ematrudo said in a message to the school community.

Ematrudo said the school wants to hear from students and staff.

“It is a common practice that if you see something, you say something and that all allegations are taken seriously,” she said.





More News

News
Governor signs bill phasing out state taxes on Social Security and receives praise
The phase-out would mean a 35% cut retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024; 65% in 2025 and 100% in 2026.
March 28, 2024 - 11:46 am
News
West Virginia Parkways Authority prepares for Easter travelers on the Turnpike
More than 500,000 transactions are projected at the West Virginia Turnpike through Monday.
March 28, 2024 - 11:30 am
News
Governor vetoes vaccination exemption bill, and now that debate is primed to get even bigger
House Bill 5105 would have removed vaccination requirements for students in virtual public schools, and it also would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own standards.
March 28, 2024 - 11:14 am
News
Lottery reports $50,000 Powerball ticket sold in Charleston
Four numbers and Power Ball matched.
March 28, 2024 - 10:24 am