State School Parents React to Firings
By: Brooke Chavez
Updated: July 18, 2009
Six Lubbock State School employees have been fired for their involvement in the June death of a school resident. Now locals with family at the school are speaking out.
Donnell smith, Jessica Santos, Abrisha Henderson, Amiya Harper, Craig Stevenson and Omar Jordan were fired when Family Protective Services confirmed their involvement in the 'physical abuse and neglect' of the 46 yr-old Mike Nickolson, who died in June.
Police were called to the school on June 6th to investigate the on-site death after it was reported that the man fell in his room after a struggle with staff.
The Lubbock County Medical Examiner reported that the male did not receive any fatal injury during his struggle that day, however protective services conducted their own investigation but have not released the details on that report.
Phil Crenshaw, a parent of one of the state school residents, says he stands by the school's decision - "the school in the main, has done and is doing a good job. I feel that their investigation is probably thorough and it's based upon the facts that they needed to make their decision and it's not necessarily faulty on their part."
Family protective services says they handed their findings to the superintendent of the State School and the Lubbock Police Department.
Still no word if there will be any more action taken against the six former employees.
