The final report into alleged abuse at an elementary program for special education children in Kingston found that staff members failed to report on and administrators failed to follow up on the allegations.The investigation started in October after the district said it received reports that special education teacher Aimee Ragonese physically mistreated students in her classroom at Bakie Elementary School in Kingston.The legal firm that conducted the independent investigation interviewed 23 people for the report. The investigation found that Ragonese would allegedly use force on students in kindergarten through second grade through touch, pushing them down hallways and secluding them in or between removable walls.Paraeducators said they feared retaliation from Ragonese if they made reports of what they allegedly saw. There were seven official reports of specific incidents against Ragonese in the 2023-24 school year.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <
The final report into alleged abuse at an elementary program for special education children in Kingston found that staff members failed to report on and administrators failed to follow up on the allegations.
The investigation started in October after the district said it received reports that special education teacher Aimee Ragonese physically mistreated students in her classroom at Bakie Elementary School in Kingston.
The legal firm that conducted the independent investigation interviewed 23 people for the report. The investigation found that Ragonese would allegedly use force on students in kindergarten through second grade through touch, pushing them down hallways and secluding them in or between removable walls.
Paraeducators said they feared retaliation from Ragonese if they made reports of what they allegedly saw. There were seven official reports of specific incidents against Ragonese in the 2023-24 school year.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
The principal delegated those reports to other administrators to investigate, but the reports weren’t investigated, according to the report. The principal also did not follow up on those reports, investigators said.
Per district policy, staff members are required to report any potential abuse or neglect of students to administration or the Division of Children, Youth and Families, but the report found that several staff members failed to do so.
>> Link: Read the full report
The report said the school superintendent was not made aware of any reports or allegations until the investigation started in October.
The district said it has already completed some professional development for staff members and is planning additional development in the area of reporting suspected or witnessed abuse or neglect.
District officials said they are fully committed to rebuilding the trust of the community.
Rangonese is facing several charges, including endangering the welfare of a child. She has pleaded not guilty.
