Closing arguments are coming Tuesday as a civil trial against Emporia State University and two former staffers of the university’s Center for Early Childhood Education comes to a close.
Jury instructions have started proceedings Tuesday, followed by closing arguments. Deliberations may start before the day is done.
Testimony began Nov. 12. Families of four children have accused former staffer Kimberly Schneider of abuse and demeaning conduct and they have accused former director Keely Persinger of failing to act when concerns were brought up.
Officially, Schneider has been accused of assault and battery. Persinger and ESU face separate counts of negligent supervision and negligent retention, while Emporia State and Persinger are also facing a joint count of negligence. Civil counts against the center were dropped last year.
Both Persinger and Schneider faced criminal charges last year after a joint investigation by the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Both also entered separate diversion agreements.
We’ll have updates on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media once verdicts are reached.