School Superintendent Charged with Child Abuse

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School Superintendent Charged with Child Abuse

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Posted: 7:36 PM May 15, 2008
Last Updated: 7:36 PM May 15, 2008
Reporter: AP

21 comments

A | A | A

OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) _ A school superintendent in eastern Kansas is accused of child abuse in a case involving a 14-year-old girl.

Franklin County prosecutors have charged Jim Reece of Ottawa with child abuse, aggravated battery and aggravated intimidation of a victim.

Ottawa Police Capt. Randy Allen says the case is related to a weekend incident in Ottawa but has declined commenting further because the case is still under investigation.

Reece is superintendent of the Central Heights Unified School District 288, about 12 miles southeast of Ottawa. He became superintendent last year after serving as superintendent in the Kansas towns of Caldwell and Healy.
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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: anonymous on Aug 13, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Where did we as a society go wrong with our children? You yell, smack, or otherwise make the child mad and we have taught the child to basiclly cry wolf because they didn't get their way and they are getting even. I blame all those people that don't have kids and have no clue that you can't just say 'ok missy that's a timeout for you'. Most kids do not care about 'timeout'. Also I blame the parents for not giving them chores and for allowing these kids to have TVs, computers and phones in their room. Timeout in my room thanks mom that's where I wanted to be anyway so I don't have to help you.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Healy on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Jim Reece DID NOT get fired from the Healy School District. He chose to leave because of the small town bull_ _ _ _ & dictatorship! It is people like you that make this great small town difficult to live in. May God forgive you for your little white lies...

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Anonymous on Jun 29, 2008 at 09:28 PM
I cant believe this, he used to be my superintendent.

Posted by: concerned friend Location: Kansas on May 22, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Until any facts are released, no accusations should be posted on the internet. Jim Reece is and extremely wonderful man that I have known for many years. For those of you that are mature enough not to accuse, please keep Jim in your prayers.

Posted by: Parent of one of his former students Location: Healy on May 20, 2008 at 11:52 AM
As a parent who had to deal with Jim Reece, I have seen his angry side. He can be calm and cool and then explode into an angry tirade if you disagree with him. He also knows who to smooze and who to snub. Healy let him go - great move for our school.

Posted by: parent Location: ks on May 19, 2008 at 10:47 PM
According to another news report, the 14 year old lost hearing due to this "discipline". I think that is a little above and beyond the spankings that many of the comments are referring to.

Posted by: ditto Location: topeka on May 17, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Its legal to beat kids at school just not at home...Go figure

Posted by: Relative Location: Topeka on May 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Can i just say first off how dare you all say he should have the book thrown at him he didn't "touch" a girl! look at what he was "charged with" does it say anything in relation to sexual contact!! NOPE didn't think so!!! Second have you ever thought he was discplining his daughter and who's to say that some kids dont need a slap in the face for mouthing off! Obviously u don't have any children because if you did you would understand how they act these days so before you go accusing someone of something they didn't do maybe you should sit back and think for a brief min (idiot) about what's really going on and if the news blew thing out of proportion!! P-Town you are def not a very bright person are you????

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Healy on May 16, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I've seen the angry side of Jim Reece. I am a parent of a student (since graduated) that was under Jim Reece. The verbal abuse I received by him over a student matter made me realize that the firing of him by the school board was a good decision for Healy. He was a poor Superintendent and extremely two-faced. He could smooze the public and then stab you in the back. I am sorry to see his name associated with Healy. I am even more sorry for the young person involved.

Posted by: another anonymous person Location: ch area on May 16, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I don't know what happened and I pray for the entire family that whatever has happened that they can take care of it and move on with help if necessary. I know that they are a very loving and kind family so this makes me very sad. I am also sad for another family in that this district has not treated so well, and that is their elementary p.e. teacher who has been non-renewed against all the elementary adminstrators, who have asked that the board reconsider. We are all very sad for this family and have them in our prayers as well.

Posted by: anonymous Location: ec kansas on May 16, 2008 at 04:53 PM
None of us know what actually happened here. It is possible that he was disciplining his 14 year old daughter, but it is also possible that he took this disciplining to a level that it should not have gone. As far as him being a very nice guy, I agree he is a very nice and charming person as is the rest of their family... however, I hope that if this is not an isolated incident that someone would be willing to reach out to the rest of his family and help them.

Posted by: CH Grad Location: Princeton, KS on May 16, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Have you ever thought that maybe he was disciplining his own child? Since when did getting your backside tanned, or your face smacked for mouthing off become child abuse? Maybe if more parents would go back to the way of the belt, switch, or backhand rather than the feared "time-out" todays youth would live more virtuous lives. I thank my parents for adequately discipling me when I was wrong; it made me the man that I am today. Grow up people... and whoever started posting the defamatory sexual abuse comments; you should be ashamed of yourself. That was in know way, shape, or form the "allegations" made against this man.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 01:16 PM
The article never mentioned anything sexual. Can you people read? Stop stirring up gossip. Is your life so boring that you make up crap so you have something to talk about to your friends?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Hey P-town, how do you know it was anything sexual? Stop making assumptions when you don't know anything about the case. Maybe the girl was being aggressive and he grabbed her by the arm or something. You don't know. Kids are way out of control anymore and have no discipline. Take a look around. The kids are running the homes. Parents need to get a reality check.

Posted by: Dawn Location: Topeka on May 16, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Listen up people, I am not sure what transpired here, but I have known this man for many years. He is the nicest man you could ever meet, and I have a hard time believing that he did anything wrong. Maybe this 14 year old girl is a spoiled brat whom made a false accusation regarding Mr. Reece. I think all evidence needs to be looked over with a fine tooth comb, so that a possible innocent man not be persecuted! Remember, if you were wrongfully accused, how would you feel? Aren't we innocent until proven guilty!

Posted by: get real Location: Kansas on May 16, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Yes, "accused". We (and you) don't know anything about what really happened so don't you think its best to keep comments such as this unsaid? That way you don't make yourself look silly. And 'P-town' your comments are even worse. School administrators have THE toughtest job in the world, especially when it comes to this. For all we know, there may have been an altercation between two students - this student being one of them - and all this superintendent did was step in and break up a fight. Speculation on my part, sure. But gosh, give the guy a break. You've already got him arrested, tried, convicted (and worse) and you don't even know what happened. Cool your jets please.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Give it a break, Kids, are the way they are because parents can not correct there child. A slap in the mouth don't hurt anyone. Kids need to be made repondable for their actions. They should not get their way then cry wolf and make up stories because they are mad. Good parents get bad a rape just because their child is being a brat.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 11:12 AM
"accused"

Posted by: P-town Location: EC Kansas on May 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I am tired of seeing teachers and priests in the news and making very poor judgement and the media acting like all teachers and priests are bad because they are not. Be rest assured, that I believe all who are caught messing with kids ought to be locked away and throw away the key, but maybe this "stupid-intendent" should be made an example of and get the maximum sentence and then chemically castrate him. I know it sounds cruel, but maybe he should of thought of that before he touched a child in a very inappropriate manner.

Posted by: get real Location: Kansas on May 16, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Come on, Anonymous, don't start this hooey when you have no idea what actually transpired. I'm sick and tired of the 'accused' in many cases end up being the 'victim'. Give it up, will you?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 16, 2008 at 08:49 AM
SO HOW MAY OTHER GIRLS DID HE TOUCH IN THE OTHER SCHOOLS HE WORKED FOR???

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