Deputies: Child abuse report unfounded at Seven Oaks Elementary

WESLEY CHAPEL -- The Pasco Sheriff's Office has decided not to file any charges against a Seven Oaks Elementary teacher and a paraprofessional who were accused last week of taping students' mouths shut. Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll issued an alert this morning saying the department had "unfounded" the child abuse case.

Doll did not release any additional information. He referred all calls to the school district.

Pasco schools assistant superintendent Renalia DuBose said the district will conduct its own investigation before allowing either the teacher or the paraprofessional, who had been accused by a parent of taping children's mouths shut, back into the classroom.

"Because they have not decided to prosecute does not mean that there is no case or that nothing happened," DuBose said. "We are going to talk to the superintendent and see what her recommendation will be to the board. ... Our level of expectation regarding what it takes to be employed to us, we have a higher standard."

DuBose stressed that she had not reviewed the case, and she was not implying that the employees did anything wrong. But she wanted the opportunity to see whether their statements or actions violated the state's code of ethics for educators before making a determination. She expected a recommendation to go to the School Board by Tuesday.

Jeff Solochek, Times staff writer