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School janitor intimidates, assaults Bell students
Contributed by: Mike Medina on 12/20/2007

Jefferson County School District Conceals Disciplinary Findings from Families. Janitor Remains Employed at School.

For nearly a year Golden families have urged Bell Middle School Administrators, The Golden Police Department, The Jefferson County Schools Superintendents Office and The Jefferson County School Board to investigate allegations of intimidation and assault on students at Bell by a school janitor.

From all indications, The Jefferson County Schools Superintendents Office and The Jefferson County School Board did find the allegations to be founded.

In two written memos from Jeffco Public Schools Community Superintendent Irene Griego and The Jefferson County School Board, "interventions were implemented", "These interventions involved personnel matters which we are unable to share with you". The School District's position to not release investigative findings and disciplinary actions taken against the janitor and Bell School Administrators, based on "confidentiality", has caused concerned for many Golden families whose kids were intimated and assaulted by the school janitor.

Bell Middle School parent Mike Medina explains, "For the District to allow Mr. Fields to work amongst our kids is a blatant disregard for our student's welfare and safety. We have been stone walled by School District from the top down but we intend to get to the bottom of this investigation and find out why Mr. Fields is still working at Bell amongst our kids. Golden families would also like to know why Bell school administrators, The Jefferson County Schools Superintendents Office and The Jefferson County School Board have turned their backs on our kids safety and welfare. If there are any other families in our community who have suffered at the hands of Mr. Fields and Bell Administrators, I would like to hear their story".

The year -long investigation centered around allegations of assault and intimidation by Fields including military pressure grips on many Bell students causing pain, hitting one student twice in the face with a ball which left a welt while exclaiming "I hate kids", zip-tying students pants who did not comply with the school's unauthorized policy of no sagging pants, confiscating cell phones from students and in one reported case intimidated a student with her own phone by taking pictures of the student in a degrading manner in front of her peers.

In all cases Bell Principal Griff Wirth, Vice Principal Bridget Jones and the Golden Police Department were asked to investigate the abuses which resulted in sensitivity talks with Fields.

Mike Medina is a parent at Bell Middle School

720.331.3085 mikem@medinacom.com


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Showing 1-10 of 16 comments
Submitted By: Mike Medina
posted on 1/9/2008 @ 9:22:00 AM
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Brenda, Did you call Superintendent Irene Griego to ask her if they found wrong doing. After you get your answer I look forward to your support protecting our kids from abusive administrators in our schools.
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Submitted By: Brenda Arnold
posted on 1/9/2008 @ 12:45:31 AM
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Sorry Mike. Step parent of a former student. Another parent brought this to my attention and the rest is right here in your story. Although thanks for the conspiracy theory. This just goes to show how fast you are to jump to conclusions. If these accusations are true I hope that justice has been served. As I would not want to see children abused in any form.
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Submitted By: Mike Medina
posted on 1/8/2008 @ 7:39:50 PM
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Brenda, Come clean. What’s your connection to Bell? Are you really Brenda or rather a Bell Administrator hiding behind the internet veil. Tell us so that we can put your comments in context. You seem to know more about this case then you’re letting on; you know that the District found wrong doing at Bell, this is fact based on testimony from Bell parents and students. Don’t take it from me, call Superintendent Irene Griego ask her if they found wrong doing. Let all your administrator buddies know that in the future if they step out of line as it relates to the inhumane treatment of our kids they can plan to see their names here on the internet and in print. In addition, I have a direct line to the Superintendent and the School Board and I won’t hesitate to report their abuses. Golden Families, we have a voice against student abuse by District Administrators, post your stories and take back our schools from single minded administrators like Brenda: if this is who you really are?
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Submitted By: Brenda Arnold
posted on 1/7/2008 @ 7:34:47 PM
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Mike, Did you personally see any of the allegations happen? My guess is no. You are taking in heresay,halftruths and third party accusations. Students at times will not tell the truth to stay out of trouble. And other students will make up stories to rebel against authority figures. Facts are Golden police and Jeffco administration did not find anything illegal or against disrict policy that would lead to this "janitors" termination. Fact is this did not make you happy and you decided to come here to defame this person and try to get the publics sympathy. Show me a police report showing your side. I doubt there is one. So stand accountable for your actions. Admit you have no facts or hard evidence and leave this scapegoat of your anger alone to live his life.
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Submitted By: Mike Medina
posted on 1/7/2008 @ 5:30:20 PM
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Brenda, you call it a vendetta we call it accountability. You have overlooked the fact that a janitor is grabbing students, zip tying student’s pants (which is not a policy of the District) and most appalling hits a student in the face twice with a ball leaving a welt and exclaimed “I hate kids”, again these are facts! In addition, the District has found wrong doing stating, "These interventions involved personnel matters which we are unable to share with you". As tax payers we deserve to know what interventions were taken against the janitor and Bell Administrators. Due to the fact that the janitor remains employed at Bell it seems that the District is turning a blind eye to his activities. If the District is interested in making the Community whole in this investigation, we invite them to reveal their findings.
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Submitted By: Brenda Arnold
posted on 1/7/2008 @ 1:01:50 PM
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I believe the author of this story has a vendetta against this "janitor". If cell phones are used during the school day they are taken. If your students pants hang past their butt(Which is a part of dress code). They are asked to call their parent to bring a belt. If they do not want to call their parent the school will offer to zip tye the pants. Jeffco schools administration and it's investigators and the Golden police. Have found no charges of student abuse. Otherwise charges would have been filed. This is the last act of a desprate man. Who has not found satisfaction using the system. For those of you who support him. An educated peson would get ALL the facts before placing judgment.
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Submitted By: becky klis
posted on 12/22/2007 @ 11:02:48 PM
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Grover and Jami, you know children are not bad. As a parent, what we believe and hope for is, that our children will be given opportunities and challenges of what life has to bring their way. Thank God for mistakes to make us grow and learn from, but words hurt, never believing in a child hurts. Getting hit by a ball hurts, zip-tying pants hurts, and this is by a teacher or principal of all people. Come on! Great job for the children, the young teens,that don't need disipline. but for the ones that do lets find ways that can steer them to suceed. Not damage their entire beings. Wake up..it's not lets get even with this child. Just try and believe in a child. They might just suprise you. nuff said
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Submitted By: becky klis
posted on 12/22/2007 @ 10:18:33 PM
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As a married woman with children soon to be attending this school, I am concerned regarding this incident. I previously had a daughter attending Bell. She's now 22. I had the most horrific experience with the school. When my child was experiencing some tough life issues, I found Mrs. Jones unwilling to work with me and my child. My willingness to offer workable solutions was cut off entirely as soon as Mrs. Jones spoke. She has the upper hand, she used words to describe students in a graphic, disturbing way. She called my daughters' friends weed hoes! To repeat: Weed hoes. I can't believe Mrs. Jones is still at the school some eight years later. She doesn't have a child's best interest at heart. What can be done?
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Submitted By: Mike Medina
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 2:01:46 PM
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For objectionable readers outlined occurrences are supported by factual testimony submitted to the District and Golden Police. To substantiate the facts District and School Board replied, "interventions were implemented". Unfortunately the janitor remains employed at Bell. Regardless of your perceptions of children the facts are the facts. As a community we simply request review of investigative documents to ensure accountably for Bell staff involved in this matter. Consider this if I hit you in the face with a ball twice leaving a welt and exclaimed, “I hate you” or grabbed you causing pain or zip-tied your pants against your will, you would consider this intimidation or assault. With these facts do you still advocate abuse in our schools; I think not. I would advocate legislation that eliminates rules of confidentially in all school districts holding administrators accountable for their actions. I also advocate a watch-dog web site for families to report abuses in schools
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Submitted By: Pamela Lowrie
posted on 12/21/2007 @ 9:58:51 AM
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And to Jami Boyat- I have been a volunteer in the Jeffco school district for seven years, putting in 500-1000 hours every year. Not all schools face this problem, but some do. And yes, speaking from experience, the "confidentiality" rules do get in the way sometimes and things DO get swept under the carpet. I have not had first hand experience with Bell yet. But I have several friends that have had problems at that school. I hope and pray that, with perseverance, the truth will come out one way or the other. I would hate for our children to be treated in the way these kids have been. I also know that justice is not always served the way it should be. Our system does not always work the way it should, unfortunately.
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Showing 1-10 of 16 comments
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Mike Medina

Golden , CO

Mike Medina has posted 7 stories and 7 comments since joining on 12/20/2007. Mike Medina 's average story rating is 4.
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