Phila. principal delayed report on student assault

A Philadelphia School District principal could face disciplinary action for failing to report an assault that occurred at her school before the Christmas break, district officials said today.

Sharswood Principal Maureen A. Skalski didn't submit the required report on the Dec. 19 incident until Jan. 10 - three days after the victim's parents filed a complaint of the assault with city police, district officials said.

Thirteen-year-old Holly Dawson, an 8th-grader at the South Philadelphia school, said a classmate poked her in the forehead, choked her, stabbed her with a broken pencil and cursed at her. The alleged incident ironically occurred during a bullying prevention program.

Dawson was very upset today when she saw the boy, a special education student, at school.He had been suspended in school for three days and then out of school. This was the first day the girl saw the boy back in school.

"He just gave me a really dirty look. He looked like he was about to kill me," she said.

State-appointed Safe Schools Advocate Jack Stollsteimer, who has investigated the case, blasted the school district for failing to remove the perpetrator and the principal for failing to report the incident to police and file the necessary incident report. The principal, he said, should be disciplined.

"It's outrageous," Stollsteimer said. "These things need to be reported immediately."

The district is investigating his allegations.

An "investigative conference," which the principal is entitled to under district policy will be held by the end of the month, said district spokeswoman Cecilia Cummings.

As for removing the student, Cummings responded: "We're trying to create a situation where both kids can be served in safe and productive environments and we are looking into several possibilities."

She declined to comment further on whether the student would be removed.

Holly Dawson's mother, Gina Dawson, broke down in tears this afternoon as she described the emotional toll the incident has taken. The student has since threatened to assault her daughter again, which she said she reported to police.

"It's pretty scary. I have to worry about her in school, going to school, coming home from school," Dawson said. "I don't think he should have been allowed back in the school."