Pretrial hearings connected to possible child abuse or neglect at Emporia State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education have been rescheduled.
The center’s former director, Keely Persinger, faces a count of failing to report suspected abuse or neglect. A staffer at the time, Kimberly Schneider, faces five counts of child endangerment. Both were set for pretrial hearings Monday, but those have now been continued to July 16 after a request by defense attorneys in the case.
Both Persinger and Schneider were charged last month after a lengthy investigation by the Lyon County Attorney’s Office, which followed a related investigation by the Kansas Department for Children and Families that became public in April 2017. Information online through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment alleged lack of supervision, improper exposure to heat during a summer activity, lack of documentation for staff credentials and lack of records for specific drills in several incidents from 2014 to 2016.
Separately, four families have filed suit against Emporia State and the center, alleging physical and emotional abuse of four preschool-aged children by Schneider. It also charges ESU, the center and Persinger with negligence, negligent supervision and negligent retention.
