Two WCCC employees terminated; charges filed

The Weston County Children’s Center board of directors voted to terminate the employment of two staff members after the board was informed that misdemeanor criminal charges had been filed against those individuals on March 8, according to a press release dated March 11. The board took this action after meeting in both executive and open session to discuss an ongoing investigation into allegations made as a result of a serious injury to a child that potentially occurred at the facility, according to the release. 
“The board acknowledged it is not making a judgment of guilt or innocence on the part of these former employees, but felt this step was necessary to demonstrate our commitment to the care and safety of our children,” said Francie Gregory, director of the center, in the release. 
Gregory added that facility staff will continue to work with state and local authorities conducting the investigation into the incident, the release says. 
“Nothing is more important to us than the health and happiness of the children we are entrusted with, and it breaks my heart that a child has suffered and a family is confronted with something like this. We want to know the truth more than anything, and hope that the system will be able to bring answers and closure to everybody involved in this tragedy,” Gregory said in the release. 
The press release further says that the WCCC will continue to operate as normal, offering their full range of services to parents and the community moving forward. Currently, the center employs 32 people, serving 110 children, according to Gregory. 
Both the Weston County Children’s Center and the News Letter Journal have chosen not to reveal the names of any of the parties involved at this time. The Weston County Children’s Center will also provide no further public comment to avoid compromising an ongoing investigation, according to the press release.