A Clayton County elementary school counselor was arrested Friday for not reporting suspected abuse of a 5-year-old student.
But Cynthia Stamps-Jones said she tried several times to report the abuse to the Division of Family and Children Services, but no one answered the phone. Stamps-Jones, also a city of Riverdale councilwoman, also contacted her supervisors and the county’s school board office, her attorney said.
Still, the school system said it wasn’t enough under Georgia law, which requires suspected abuse be reported within 24 hours.
“You have to talk to somebody,” Vicki Gavalas, Clayton County schools spokeswoman, told Channel 2 Action News.
Attorney Keith Martin said Stamps-Jones, the counselor at King Elementary School in College Park, tried to talk to someone and made repeated phone calls.
“She did on the morning of the 8th. The afternoon of the 8th. The morning of the 9th,” Martin said. “And ultimately, she called police on the morning of the 10th.”
Stamps-Jones called police when there was suspected abuse with a second child, Martin said. At that time, she reported allegations involving both children to police.
Later Friday, Stamps-Jones was told a warrant was issued for her arrest. She surrendered Friday night and returned to work Monday, Martin said.
“Even in the warrant affidavits, it says she documented, took photographs and called (DFCS),” Martin said.
The school system told Channel 2 it has launched an internal investigation to determine if anyone else should be disciplined.
“If, for example, the supervisor finds out or doesn’t do anything or that supervisor finds out and doesn’t do anything, that culpability follows up the ranks,” Gavalas told Channel 2.
DFCS did not respond to a request for information on the case late Monday.
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