Dennis Reitano, principal of St. Madeline-St. Rose School in Ridley Park, Delaware County, has been placed on administrative leave effective Monday, Dec. 5, after concerns were raised during a Safe Environment lesson, according to a press release from the archdiocesan Office for Catholic Education. A report was made to law enforcement and authorities are investigating.
School families were sent a letter Monday evening via-email informing them that Reitano has been placed on administrative leave, and a hard copy of the letter is being sent home today. The letter stated, “Nothing is more important to all of us at St. Madeline – St. Rose School than the safety and security of your children…we are all committed to creating a healthy academic environment for the children.”
The letter also encourages parents to contact authorities with any additional information or concerns. Counselors from the Delaware County Intermediate Unit were made available today for anyone who wanted to speak with them about the situation. Parents needing guidance on how to talk to their children about this can contact the Office for Child and Youth Protection directly at 1-888-800-8780 or e-mail philavac@adphila.org.
Safe Environment is a comprehensive program which provides an age-appropriate curriculum regarding healthy relationships between young people and adults. The Archdiocese provides this education to almost 120,000 young people every year in our schools and parish religious education programs. For more information about resources available to parents please visit Creating a Network of Prevention and Protection at http://bit.ly/OCEPreventionandProtection.
Reitano has been principal at St. Madeline-St. Rose School since 2009. He taught at the following schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: St. Richard School, Philadelphia (1985-1995); Stella Maris School, Philadelphia (1981-1985); St. Thomas Aquinas School, Philadelphia (1977-1981); The Trinity School, Philadelphia (1974-1976); St. Aloysius School, Philadelphia (November –December 1973) and St. Ludwig School, Philadelphia (1972-1973).
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