Lakota principal's assault trial postponed

KANSAS — The assault trial for Lakota Elementary Principal Dana D. Ward, previously scheduled for late October, was postponed. Ward, 55, of Rudolph, faces a misdemeanor assault charge on allegations she struck a student in the face with the back of her hand. She previously entered a not-guilty plea. A pretrial hearing is now scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 26 in the Sandusky County Court, Woodville location, according to court records. The delay follows an Aug. 25 filing by Ward's attorney to waive her right to a speedy trial. Court developments The case has also seen a change in Ward's legal representation. Attorney Albert L. Potter II filed a motion to withdraw as counsel on Sept. 15, which a judge granted two days later. Attorney Scott Coon continues to represent Ward. Recent court filings also show the defense subpoenaed Lakota Superintendent Chad Coffman. A subpoena for Coffman was filed on Aug. 21 and again on Sept. 9, compelling him to appear for a motion hearing. As previously reported by The A-T, Coffman is Ward's supervisor. A school resource officer's report from the initial investigation stated that Coffman, after reviewing video of the incident, told the officer "that he did not want to place Mrs. Ward on leave." Ward was placed on paid administrative leave on May 23. On Oct. 22, the court ruled on several pending motions. A judge granted a "motion in limine" filed by the prosecution. According to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, a motion in limine is a request to a court to exclude or limit certain evidence from trial. The judge granted the motion filed by Assistant Sandusky County Prosecutor Joshua Clark, while a corresponding motion from Ward's attorney arguing against it was denied. Background Ward was charged following a May 8 incident at the school. A Sandusky County Sheriff's deputy wrote in a report that security footage showed Ward, while holding a student's wrist, "strikes (the child) in the facial area with the back of her hand." The A-T previously reported that a 2013 administrator evaluation from Ward's time at Napoleon Area City Schools described a similar incident, alleging she left "red marks" on a kindergarten student's arms after "lifting and pulling" the child. No charges were filed in that incident. Meanwhile, the elementary school has seen another change in interim leadership. According to an Oct. 14 email sent by Coffman to parents, Interim Elementary Principal Brenda Murphy's last day was Oct. 31. She was replaced by Jon Detwiler, a previous Lakota superintendent. "At this time, there are no new updates regarding Mrs. Ward," Coffman wrote in the email. "We will continue to allow the legal process to run its course and will keep you informed as appropriate." Ward's next court appearance is the Nov. 26 pre-trial hearing.