Knoch Primary principal charged with failing to report suspected child abuse
Knoch Primary School principal Gregory Mandalas has been charged with willfully failing to report child abuse directly disclosed to him as a mandated reporter.
Mandalas, of Butler, was charged Monday, May 22, by state police. Under Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, Mandalas, as a school employee, is legally mandated to report any suspected case of child abuse.
According to the criminal complaint, the charge is connected to an Aug. 4, 2022, incident involving a 5-year-old girl.
In a Monday afternoon letter to parents of students, the district said “due to the serious nature of the charges, Dr. Mandalas has been placed on indefinite administrative leave. It is the district’s understanding that the charges and alleged conduct of Dr. Mandalas do not involve a Knoch School District student.”
Knoch School District solicitor Tom Breth said Mandalas will be paid during his time on leave.
Mandalas has served as principal at Knoch Primary School since December 2016, when it was named South Butler Primary School. Prior to arriving at Knoch, Mandalas served as a principal with the Karns City Area School District.
State police plan a news conference on the charges Tuesday morning, May 23, at the barracks.
The Butler Eagle plans to livestream the 9 a.m. Tuesday news conference on Facebook.
