Principal throws $hit at students, suspended
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Principal charged, suspended
Accused is sister of deputy mayor
Mayor Miller's children attend the school
Aug. 18, 2006. 01:00 AM
ROBYN DOOLITTLE
STAFF REPORTER
A Toronto principal has been charged with two counts of assault after allegedly tossing excrement at children.
Maria Pantalone, principal of Keele Street Junior Public School and Mountview Alternative, located near Keele St. and Humberside Ave., will not be allowed to return to her post unless the matter is resolved before classes begin. The children were not from her school, police said.
She has been suspended with pay and ordered to stay away from anyone under the age of 16, unless under supervision.
Police received word that Pantalone, sister of deputy mayor Joe Pantalone, was involved in an altercation with two children June 30, but investigators were mum on details refusing to say whether the excrement was animal or human.
Board officials said the incident did not involve the school or any of Pantalone's students.
"I'm not prepared to comment on anything other than there are charges and they are before the courts," Det. Patrick Keane said.
"Look, we issue a lot of press releases ... no press release was issued for this because we did not consider it a newsworthy item."
Mayor David Miller's children attend the Keele Street school.
Both Miller and Joe Pantalone refused to comment on the charges yesterday, but earlier this week Miller spoke glowingly of the long-time educator, calling her a "wonderful human being" and a "terrific principal."
Colleagues also say she is a woman with a solid reputation.
"It's a sensitive issue ... This is not an issue with students at the school where she is a principal. This is a personal matter for her," said Penny Mustin, the Toronto District School Board's executive superintendent of employee services.
Whenever an allegation like this is made against an employee, Mustin said, "We would remove them from the school, away from children, until it is resolved."
The board is conducting its own investigation, but will wait for the court's decision before taking further action.
Pantalone is scheduled to appear in court at the end of the month.
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source:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...72154&t=TS_Home
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