By Melody Gutierrez
mgutierrez@sacbee.com
The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office dropped its case against an Elverta school district superintendent fired over allegations that duct tape was placed over a student's mouth, it was announced today.
Elverta Joint Elementary School District's Elizabeth Golchert was fired last month, despite the student's father voicing support for the superintendent/principal.
The father told The Bee that his third grade son has behavior issues and that he gave Golchert permission to restrain him when necessary.
"Without condoning the conduct, the District Attorney's Office has concluded the facts present a reasonable argument that Golchert believed she was acting within the scope of the authority the father had given her when tape was applied to the child's mouth," according to a news release from the District Attorney's Office.
The Sept. 21 incident began when the boy had an outburst in class and was sent to Golchert's office, the release states.
Once there, the press release said he became "uncontrollable, kicking and pushing chairs around the room," so Golchert "held the child's arms down and laid across his knees while he sat on a chair."
"When the child began screaming repeatedly, Golchert asked school secretary (Sharon) Anderson for duct tape to cover the child's mouth. After a short time, the tape was removed," the release states.
The Twin Rivers Police department investigated the allegations against Golchert and Anderson and sent a report to the District Attorney's Office.
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521. Follow her on Twitter @MelodyGutierrez.
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