Riley High School (WSBT-TV File Photo) |
Riley High School teacher Carol Wallace was suspended for five days without pay in December for striking a student in the face after directing him and another student into a hallway and instructing them to fight.
The Tribune recently learned some of the circumstances surrounding the case after making a verbal request weeks ago and then later filing a written Freedom of Information Act request with South Bend schools for more details.
According to the school corporation's response, the following are "uncontested facts" that were presented at a hearing.
"Mrs. Wallace directed two students to step into the hallway and told them not to return until one was 'bloody.' It was also uncontested that when Ms. Wallace later talked with the students in the hallway, she brushed away one student's hand from his face, striking his cheek."
When reached by The Tribune, Wallace, who has been employed with the school corporation for some 35 years and whose salary is currently $61,276, indicated she did not want to comment.
Heidi Miller, a UniServ director with the Indiana State Teachers Association, also declined to comment on the situation.
The school corporation said it would not release information about whether injuries were sustained by either student, nor would it say whether the incident was referred to police and/or the prosecutor's office for review.
But, according to a written response to The Tribune's request for information, the district said it complied "with all its legal obligations" in handling the incident.
Capt. Phil Trent, spokesman for South Bend police, said the student who was struck came to the Police Department the day of the incident, along with his guardian, to file a police report.
The student, Trent said, told police he and another student were sent into the hall because they were "acting up." When Wallace reconfronted the pair, the student said, she "back-handed" him across the face.
The case, Trent said, was forwarded to the St. Joseph County prosecutor's office's Special Victims Unit.
On Wednesday, there was no one available who was authorized to release information about the status of the case.
Roger Parent, president of the school board, said the administration initially recommended the five-day suspension without pay, but Wallace, with the representation of the teachers union, requested a hearing before the board and appealed that decision.
In the end, Parent said, the board upheld the original recommendation.
As to whether the board could have come up with its own disciplinary measure for Wallace that would have been different from what the administration recommended, Parent said it could have, though he declined to speak more specifically on the matter.
The Tribune also requested from South Bend schools information about any past disciplinary action against Wallace.
According to the information provided, the recent incident is the first time the teacher has been suspended.
Staff writer Kim Kilbride:
kkilbride@sbtinfo.com
574-247-7759
