Sep 2, 2008

Poor conduct charges

City staff to discuss 'near abusive' claims at Menlo Children's Center tonight with parents

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

After a former teacher raised concerns about the management and staff of the Menlo Children's Center in a series of e-mails to parents, city officials will try to clear up the accusations tonight in a public meeting.

In an Aug. 24 e-mail, Nick Ross, a three-year veteran recreation leader in the after-school and summer day camp program, describes what he claims is "near abusive" behavior by teachers toward children. He said one teacher threw a chair in the direction of a child, sending it just a foot away, and that another teacher snatched a ball form a girl's hands, punted it across the yard and yelled at her to get ready for air band rehearsal. He also said he saw staff members fiddle with text messaging instead of keeping a close eye on the kids and talk more amongst themselves than with the children. Ross resigned from the center two weeks ago.

Although he never filed a formal written complaint, Ross said he told as many administrators as he could and that nothing was ever done.

"I witnessed many alarming events," Ross said Monday. "I reported them immediately, but the behavior of the leaders continued."

The city was quick to respond to Ross and sent out a rebuttal e-mail within days. In it, Community Services Director Barbara George claims that all of the issues, from text messaging to temper control, are exaggerated in the e-mails, but nevertheless have been addressed by management at the center.

At tonight's parent-teacher meeting, George plans to go further in her assurances to parents that Ross is wrong when he claims, as he did at the city council meeting a week ago, that nothing at the center has changed.

George could not be reached for comment and the center's director Natalya Jones declined to comment. But City Manager Glen Rojas said Friday that he and city staff are looking into the situation.

"Even though we don't believe that the accusations are founded, we are still taking it very serious," Rojas said.

Ross said he sent out about 70 e-mails to parents and received between 10 and 15 replies. He would not disclose the source of the e-mail list.

At last week's council meeting, Ross made a three-minute case to council members, who reacted with some concern over whether the situation is being taken seriously. After Ross's time at the podium, Rojas assured the council that the children are in excellent hands, but Ross interrupted Rojas and told him he was wrong. The outburst prompted Mayor Andy Cohen to call for order. That's when Ross walked out.

On Monday, Cohen said he's still gathering information about Ross' claims.

"I'm looking forward to learning more," Cohen said. "I'm not prepared to condemn anyone."

Today's parent-teacher meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Burgess Recreation Center, at 701 Laurel St. in Menlo Park.



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.