McNinch Primary School

McNinch Primary School could have a new principal by Tuesday night, as fallout from the alleged strangling of a non-verbal autistic student by a now-former special education teacher continues.

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines confirmed Monday that interviews for a principal to succeed Jane Duffy were taking place throughout the day, with a decision on who should be recommended to the board of education to fill the job likely to come by Monday evening.

The board had already been scheduled to meet in a special session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday for a student disciplinary hearing, and matters pertaining to the hiring of personnel have been added to the agenda.

“The principal position at McNinch Elementary School was posted, and came down,” Haines said Monday. “We have been interviewing candidates today. We have had representation from the school and the county office on the interview committee.”

The board already accepted the immediate retirement of Duffy during a meeting in December, according to Haines.

Retired educator Scott Varner had been serving as substitute principal at the school.

Duffy pleaded not guilty in Marshall County Magistrate Court to charges stemming from the alleged strangling of a 6-year-old non-verbal autistic student by McNinch special education teacher Kiersten Moses. The alleged incident took place on Sept. 16.

According to criminal complaints, Moses allegedly put her hands around the throat of the student and squeezed. A teacher’s aide in the room told Duffy, who told Marshall County Schools Special Programs Director Erin Cuffaro, according to the complaints. Allegedly, neither Duffy nor Cuffaro reported the incident to the Child Abuse Hotline, which is their obligation as mandatory reporters.

As a result of the incident, Duffy faces one misdemeanor count of failure to report child abuse or neglect.

Cuffaro, meanwhile, faces eight counts of felony gross neglect of child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury; one misdemeanor count of failure to report child abuse or neglect; one misdemeanor count of obstruction of law enforcement, probation, parole, court security, corrections officer with threats of harm; and one misdemeanor count of interference with officers or members and false information.

Haines said Monday that an independent company has been tapped in to monitor and observe special education classes at McNinch. The company, Education System Solutions of St. Albans, West Virginia, is comprised of former employees of the West Virginia Department of Education.

Cuffaro continues to be suspended without pay by the Marshall County Board of Education pending the results of investigation.

“The personnel at the central office have divided up the responsibilities of the special education director to make sure that department continues to run,” Haines said.

Moses, meanwhile, has been charged with a felony count of strangulation, two felony counts of battery and assault of a disabled child and one count of felony child abuse. Moses resigned from her position on Oct. 5, and no longer works for the school system.

A full-time teacher was hired in October to fill her position, according to Haines.

“Mr. Varner has been helping us as a substitute principal, and we appreciate his efforts there,” Haines said. “The teachers at McNinch Primary have been working diligently to continue to educate their students. We are just monitoring on our end to keep things moving smoothly.”