NCSD director remains on suspension

Classes start Monday

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: August 17, 2010

Morganton --

The investigation into abuse and neglect allegations at the North Carolina School for the Deaf is continuing, but officials expect it will be wrapped up by the end of the week.
Renee McCoy, a spokeswoman for the state, said on Monday the school’s director, Janet McDaniel, remains suspended.
The state suspended McDaniel, whose salary is $97,115 a year, with pay on July 16. Dr. Esther Brassell has been serving as director of the school during the investigation.
The state started an investigation after receiving reports from the Disability Rights North Carolina, which regularly monitors the school, Broughton and other state institutions. Disability Rights officials say they investigated the allegations for two years before contacting the state.
Some of the allegations include the use of improper restraint of students, assault on students by a teacher and a staff member viewing female students via video during shower times and while in their pajamas.
The Disability Rights investigation alleges McDaniel didn’t report, or delayed reporting, incidents at the school to the state and even participated in threatening and harassing behavior against staff members who reported an incident of abuse by a staff member to the child’s parent.
If the state concludes its investigation of the allegations this week, that’s just before students will be returning to the school for the year.
Registration day is Sunday and classes start Monday, McCoy said.
During the legislative short session this summer, lawmakers agreed that students at NCSD, as well as the school for the deaf in Wilson and the school for the Blind in Raleigh, should return to the schools on Sunday evening. Earlier this year, officials at the Office of Education Services, which oversees the schools, decided students had to return to campus on the day classroom instruction started in an effort to cut costs.
Legislators this year decided to dissolve the Office of Education Services and put oversight of the school under the Department of Public Instruction.
McCoy said DPI won’t take over the schools until next year.
As for McDaniel, she served as acting director from April 2008 until early this year, when she took over as director, say state officials.

NCSD director remains on suspension

Classes start Monday

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