Parent Of Skelly Elementary Student Defends School Despite Allegations

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The parent of a Skelly Elementary School student is defending the school and says the principal is getting a bad rap. 

The school has been criticized since an administrator has been suspended while police look into allegations of sexual molestation. 

The third grader's mom, Kristi Simpson, says the school should be praised and not blamed.

The Skelly school administrator was suspended Tuesday with pay. The News On 6 is not releasing his name because no charges have been filed. 

Search warrants reveal a 6-year-old boy told police the suspect put his hands in the boy's pants.

"It's a little nerve wracking as a parent to hear this coming from your student's school," said Simpson.

Simpson was a teacher's assistant at the school last year.

"I love the school," said Simpson.

The incident has Skelly leaders coming under fire. Take this comment, for example, on NewsOn6.com by another Skelly parent: "It is unbelievable that the school would try to sweep this under the rug and that TPS would suspend him with pay.... so he gets some paid time off.... wouldn't we all like that?"

But Simpson says the school is getting a bad reputation and believes school leaders have taken the necessary steps to protect the children.

"Contrary to the way some of the implications have been well, 'maybe they covered up for him' or something. But I think he's being stopped precisely because of the school's actions," said Simpson.

According to court records, police have what's being called a "packet of e-mails" from concerned Skelly staff members. The News On 6 has requested those e-mails under the state's open records act, but Tulsa Public Schools refuses to release the e-mails citing the criminal investigation.

4/29/2010  Related Story: Tulsa Public Schools Refuses To Release E-mails Over Investigation Into School Administrator

Simpson says she never witnessed any criminal behavior by the suspect, but she says she found him to be strange.

"He had an arrogant attitude and, I think, he made people around him feel uncomfortable," Simpson said.

But Simpson is quick to add she's proud of the school's principal and has no problems letting her daughter go to Skelly Elementary.

"I'm very happy this is the school where my daughter goes," said Simpson.

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4/29/2010  Related Story: Skelly Elementary Accusations Reminder For Parents