Wayne Teacher Accused Of Locking Preschool Student In Bathroom, Parent Says

WAYNE, N.J. — District officials are investigating allegations of abuse after a teacher reportedly locked at least one preschool student inside a bathroom as a form of punishment, parents said.

Parents are livid because school and district officials failed to notify them of the allegations or the investigation until Monday — four weeks after the alleged abuse occurred.

A student in Kristin Paladino's daughter's preschool class at Packanack Elementary School was reportedly "spanked on the butt, pushed into the bathroom, and locked in it until he calmed down," said Paladino, the mother of one of the children in the class. The boy was reportedly put in the bathroom as a form of punishment, Paladino said.

Paladino also spoke about the allegations in a report that aired on CBS2 Tuesday night.

Paladino said it reportedly happened to just the one student. It may have happened to another student, she said, but parents and the state investigator she and her husband spoke to could not verify that claim.

Paladino said that two classroom aides were reportedly aware of the situation, but did not report it because it was "above their heads."

The teacher, whom Paladino said was a "wonderful part of her daughter's life for two years," has been suspended from work since June 8.

Paladino is angry with the district for failing to notify her in a timely manner of the allegations. She said she received a call from the district Monday — four days after school let out for the summer and after she received the surprise visit from the state investigator.

"They dropped a significant bomb on all of us," Paladino said. "It was totally out of left field. It's too little, too late at that point. You're telling me after school is out for the summer and it's all said and done."

Superintendent Mark Toback said Tuesday night that the district was "very proactive in dealing with this situation" and "investigated a number of allegations in a timely manner and reported the allegations as required." Toback did not say what agency or authority the allegations were reported to.

"The well being of our students is always our first priority," Toback said. He declined further comment.

Principal Roger Rogalin could have told Paladino's husband, Matthew, about the allegations two weeks ago during a meeting with him, but did not, she said.

Rogalin was hired as Packanack's principal five years ago. He was coordinator of the Wayne Community School for five months in 2011 before he took the Packanack job.

Roger Rogalin — Patch file photo

It is the second time in three years the district has addressed abuse allegations brought against a teacher.

A substitute teacher struck two Pines Lake Elementary School students on their heads in March 2013 because she wanted them to sit back down. The boys were sharpening their pencils.

Parents tried to contact then-Superintendent Ray Gonzalez and Board of Education trustees multiple times over the phone and through email. They never heard back from any of them.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Sign up for Patch N.J. email newsletters here.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Melaugh via Flickr Creative Commons