An administrator at Wheeling Middle School has resigned following an allegation of inappropriate physical contact with a student, Ohio County Schools officials confirmed. The district has initiated multiple investigations involving law enforcement and state agencies.
The Wheeling Police Department and the West Virginia Department of Human Services are now conducting separate, independent investigations into the matter. The school district has also launched its own internal review.
Key Takeaways
- A Wheeling Middle School administrator has resigned after an allegation of inappropriate physical contact with a student.
- Ohio County Schools immediately removed the employee and notified law enforcement and state agencies.
- The Wheeling Police Department and the West Virginia Department of Human Services are conducting independent investigations.
- The school district is cooperating fully with external probes and is also conducting its own internal investigation.
Official Response and Investigation Protocol
Upon learning of the allegation, Ohio County Schools (OCS) leadership took immediate action. According to a statement from the central office, the district followed state law by promptly reporting the incident to the West Virginia Department of Human Services and local law enforcement.
The family of the student involved was notified immediately. A meeting was held between the family and OCS leadership to share all available information at the time. The administrative employee was removed from their duties at the school as the investigation process began.
Shortly after these initial steps were taken, the employee submitted their resignation to the school district. OCS confirmed it is completing its own investigation and will provide a final report to the West Virginia Department of Education.
Law Enforcement Confirms Active Case
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger confirmed that his department was alerted to the alleged incident on Monday, March 9. He stated that a detective has been assigned to the case to conduct a thorough investigation.
"It’s really just too early and highly inappropriate to speculate," Chief Schwertfeger said. "We want to get all of the facts, which include any potential eyewitnesses. Any video, any medical records that may be involved. All of that is very important before we make a determination.”
The chief did not name any individuals involved, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. He explained that once all evidence is collected, the findings will be presented to the Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office, which will then decide on any further legal action.
Mandatory Reporting in West Virginia
West Virginia state law mandates that school personnel, including administrators and teachers, are required to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. This legal obligation ensures that allegations are promptly investigated by the appropriate authorities, such as Child Protective Services (part of the Department of Human Services) and law enforcement, to protect student welfare.
School and District Remain Tight-Lipped
While Ohio County Schools has confirmed the resignation and the ongoing investigations, officials have not publicly identified the administrator involved. However, a job posting for the principal position at Wheeling Middle School has appeared on the district's website.
As of Friday, the school's official website still listed Rich McCardle as the principal under its staff directory. The district has not confirmed if the resignation is connected to this specific role.
The response to the allegation involves a coordinated effort among several key bodies:
- Ohio County Schools: Responsible for internal investigation and reporting.
- Wheeling Police Department: Handles the criminal investigation.
- WV Department of Human Services: Conducts an independent child welfare investigation.
- WV Department of Education: Will receive the final report from the school district.
The incident has generated considerable discussion on social media platforms within the community. However, law enforcement and school officials have cautioned that much of the information circulating online has not been verified and is speculative.
Officials have stressed the importance of allowing the investigative process to proceed without interference. Both the school district and the police department have committed to a comprehensive review of the facts.
This story is developing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available from official sources.
