Updated: Oct. 20 at 7:07 p.m.

On Tuesday night, Dorchester District 2 officials released a statement regarding the removal of three Knightsville Elementary School administrators from their posts.
The statement reads in part: “The Knightsville Elementary School administrative team received knowledge of an alleged abuse/neglect incident perpetrated by a teaching assistant at that school. After a thorough investigation, it was determined the administrative team failed to report the alleged abuse/neglect to appropriate authorities, and they were reassigned in the district. Appropriate disciplinary actions were also taken for other persons involved.”
Late last week, Knightsville Elementary School principal Anita Ruff-Putillion and assistant principals Mary Rita Watson and Les Kephart were removed from their positions.
On Tuesday morning, Pat Raynor, District 2 public information officer, said she remains unsure to which schools the three outgoing administrators will be sent and doesn’t know what their positions at those schools will be. The statement released Tuesday night did not contain this information either.
The statement goes on to read: “Teachers, school counselors, principals and assistant principals are specifically listed in State law (63-7-310, S.C. Code) as mandatory reporters for child abuse and neglect. Persons in these positions are required to personally report to local law enforcement or the local Department of Social Services if they have suspicions or knowledge that a child may have been abused or neglected. Mandatory reporters need only to have a suspicion of abuse or neglect in order to make a report. Law enforcement and the Department of Social Services have been informed and will further investigate this matter.”
Knightsville’s new principal is Wally Baird, who was working as an assistant principal at Beech Hill Elementary School. Claire Sieber and Nicole Ramsey, who were assistant principals at Spann Elementary School and Newington Elementary School, respectively, have assumed the assistant principal positions at Knightsville.
On Monday, Baird said no children inquired about the previous administration and that the mood in the school was “positive, upbeat and enthusiastic.”
Parents of students at Knightsville were notified of the changes Monday. A meet-and-greet with the new administrative team will be held for parents in the near future, Raynor said.
Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com