School District Completes Alleged Child Abuse Review, District Attorney’s Office Still Investigating

Former Redwood City School District employee Dorie Johnson made public on March 14 that a special ed teacher’s aide had not properly restrained an autistic student. The district , but agreed to further investigate Johnson’s additional claims. After conducting further internal review, it found no further findings, according to district spokeswoman Naomi Hunter.

However, the district added that, "we always consider new information that might come to light in the future," Hunter added.

Johnson, who had been a substitute aide in the classroom where she believes the abuse occurred, said she won’t stop until the staff who had not acted appropriately are disciplined.

“I still don’t want that aide near children,” she said.

After submitting the report to Child Protective Services, she has been in contact with a Special Emphasis Community Worker, who preferred to remain nameless, with the District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe personally called Johnson on Friday to aask her to send over information and her account via email.

Johnson added that she believes district employees did not follow protocol once they had heard of her suspicions of child abuse. 

By law, any district employee that suspects or is aware of possible misconduct or abuse is required to report this to the district and Child Protective Services. Each employee takes a brief training course and signs an agreement.

Failure to comply with this reporting may result in disciplinary action, as was the case when six employees possible abuse by .

The district is now requiring all employees to complete a 45-minute online training that has recently become available to districts. Administrators will also take this training, as will all current staff members.

Correction: During the phone call from District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, he asked for information via email rather than assuring that the incident was currently being investigated.

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