A special needs teacher and the principal at Walter Hill Elementary are charged with misdemeanor child abuse and have been suspended without pay by the school system. The school will be open Monday with an interim principal in place.

Rutherford County Schools spokesman James Evans said "Dr. Helen Campbell, the principal of Walter Hill Elementary School, and Bonnie Marlar, a teacher at the school, have been charged with misdemeanor child abuse by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department."

The allegations that reportedly caused the legal action allegedly occurred on November 4, 2019, however authorities are not releasing any information. 

Evans added the school district has placed both on suspension without pay pending the outcome of an investigation.

Evans went on to say "Student safety is of the utmost concern, which is why we have acted quickly to this situation until it can be resolved."

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Here is the letter sent to parents by the Rutherford County Board of Education

Hello Walter Hill Elementary School parents,

This is James Evans with Rutherford County Schools. I'm sorry to bother you on a Saturday, but I have some unfortunate information to share with you. Ms. Helen Campbell, the principal of Walter Hill Elementary School, and Bonnie Marlar, a teacher at the school, have been charged with misdemeanor child abuse by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department.

As a school district, we have placed both on suspension pending the outcome of an investigation.

We understand this comes as shocking information and that you want more details, but we are not able to release additional information at this time because of the ongoing law enforcement investigation. However, we want you to know that student safety is of the utmost concern, which is why we have acted quickly to this situation until it can be resolved.

The school will be open Monday and will carry on with normal operations with an interim principal in place. Thank you again for supporting the school and working with us through this situation.

REMINDER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and WGNSRadio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.