Two aides can return to work, Fayetteville superintendent says

Vandergriff Elementary School in Fayetteville; photographed on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
Vandergriff Elementary School in Fayetteville; photographed on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Two of the five classroom aides on leave since last month's death of a first-grader were cleared to return to work at Vandergriff Elementary School, according to a School District news release Friday.

One of the two aides submitted her resignation after being informed of the district's decision Wednesday, according to the release.

The other three remain on paid leave pending the completion of investigations by the district and Fayetteville Police Department, according to the release.

"These two paraprofessionals were patient so that our internal investigation could be thorough," Superintendent Matthew Wendt stated. "The investigation process was detailed and comprehensive and has allowed (Fayetteville School District) to determine that these two staff members properly performed their jobs."

Police recently received autopsy results from the Arkansas State Crime Lab and forwarded the case to the Washington County prosecutor's office, Sgt. Craig Stout said.

A victim's coordinator will take a look at the case and make contact with the family, said Colby Ball, an assistant case coordinator for the office. The next step is for the case to be assigned to a prosecutor to review and decide if charges need to be filed, he said.

Adron Benton, 7, was at recess on the Vandergriff school playground with a group of 16 classmates and five classroom aides when he went missing March 7. He was found and pulled from the swimming pool of a private residence adjacent to the school.

He died the next day at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

NW News on 04/22/2017

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