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James Rencher, a teacher at East Wake High School, has been charged with 12 counts of assaulting a person with a disability. The allegations were first reported to Principal Stacey Alston by three staff members in October 2022, but it took 19 months before law enforcement was notified.

Parents call for Wake principal's resignation after alleged abuse went unreported for 19 months

<p>Lawyers for a Wake County teacher accused of abusing Children with special needs. Asked the court for more time today, James Rencher is now due in court in October. That's when a trial date could be set. Rencher faces 12 counts of assaulting students with disabilities at East Wake High School. In 2022 law enforcement only began investigating the alleged abuse after concerned parents frustrated with lack of transparency from the Wake County school district came to Wrls Keeley Arthur. Today she has new documents showing school leaders were aware of the allegations of abuse for more than a year before they were thoroughly investigated inside an East Wake High Classroom were some of our communities most vulnerable non speaking students just in hell. And Christian King at school educators were their protectors. And according to emails and letters recently leaked only to WRL within weeks of the 2022 fall semester, three educators reported teacher James had yelled, pushed and shoved students in his classroom. These reports went virtually unaddressed for 19 months. The ball was dropped somewhere. Wake County Schools superintendent, Doctor Robert Taylor, are you investigating the way in which this was handled? I want to say to every parent and every person that's listening, that our number one duty is to make sure that our students are safe uh that we have the proper procedures in procedures which include state law requiring school principals to report assaults on school grounds. Is it up to a principal to decide whether or not they report abuse to law enforcement? I mean, it's mandatory reporting is not optional reporting. Let's go back to October 17th 2022. That's when a teacher here at East Wake emailed Principal Stacy also and saying quote, I saw James Wrencher kick an exercise ball from under Justin. Justin fell to the floor. I want to bring this to your attention. I know teachers are mandated reporters. Five minutes later, Principal Austin emailed back saying quote, thanks for letting us know, but parents and law enforcement confirmed to me they were never notified. I wanted to know why. So we paid Principal Alston a visit. No answer. Same story for the four emails we sent him asking if he investigated the situation and if he did what he found that invalidated the claims this spring, a letter signed by a district administrator and copied to Principal Alston told Justin's mother the allegations were investigated and addressed. Adding that Rancher went to a different school in the district. You heard that right? James Rancher moved to a middle school in Fuqua Arena where he continued teach for more than a year. But after WRL reported on anonymous letters the parents received alleging abuse and the lack of criminal investigation, the Wake County Sheriff's office got involved and arrested James Rancher with 12 counts of assault. What's Stacy Austin's employment status? With the district? Again, a specific employee can't really talk about i with all due respect. You're really not saying much the ball was dropped. We have records showing that. What can you tell families right now? What I can tell you, uh delays and tremendous delays. Uh That's, it's really not acceptable. I personally think you should be fired. You're saying that to the principal, the principal should, in my opinion, should be let go. He needs to resign or do something else out of the school system. You are not a leader of a school by no means. And we do want to mention that Doctor Robert Taylor didn't become the superintendent of the school district until a year after those abuse allegations occurred. I talked to James Rencher before his arrest. He and his lawyer deny all allegations. We checked on principal Austin's employment status as of last check, it is active and you can watch my full interview with the superintendent right now on our website or our youtube channel.</p>

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