
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 8, 1993                   TAG: 9307080170
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOLS' CHIEF ASKS FOR PROBE OF PRINCIPAL

In one of his first actions as superintendent of the Roanoke school system, E. Wayne Harris has ordered an administrative investigation of Hurt Park Elementary School Principal William Shepherd.

The School Board has allowed Shepherd, charged with failure to report a case of suspected child abuse, to remain at his post until the courts resolve the charges against him. He is scheduled for a court hearing Aug. 3.

There's no guarantee Shepherd will remain a principal this fall. Charles Day, who took over as School Board chairman Wednesday, said the board recently renewed Shepherd's contract without assigning him to a school.

"That means he has his contract but where he will be next year is not decided," Day said.

He added that if the courts find Shepherd guilty, the School Board still may terminate his contract. The board also may assign Shepherd a position other than principal depending on the outcome of the case, Day said.

"We have a lot of different jobs in the system," he said.

In the meantime, the central office has not selected somebody to take Shepherd's place at Hurt Park, Harris said.

He said the board had to renew Shepherd's contract because of state laws governing "continuing contracts," which stipulate an employee must be notified by April 15 if he or she will not be renewed for the next academic year.

Harris said he acted on directions from the board in ordering an investigation. The board voted at its last meeting, in June, to direct former Superintendent Frank Tota to begin an investigation and issue a report to board members.

"I will follow the board's direction and will take whatever action's appropriate when I see the report," said Harris, who inherited the task from Tota.

Harris said he expected to see a report on the investigation before the next board meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 10.

Shepherd stands accused of failing to report the concerns of four teachers who noticed unusual bruises covering the face of an 11-year-old student on April 27. He could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

by CNB