Prague 5: Kindergarten director Kroupov was threatened
Prague 5 held a press conference on Monday, at which it spoke out against the alleged falsehoods stated in the misleading reports of TV Nova. In its resolution, the municipal district council also responds to new and serious findings in the cause of the Kroupov Kindergarten and establishes an independent inspection committee of experts to dispel all doubts. The opportunity to nominate its members will also be offered to opposition representatives. Praha 5 informed about this in a press release.
“Preschool children became hostages in a heated personal dispute. Therefore, I listened to the parents’ pleas and entered the dispute as a mediator, trying to calm the situation. We want to dispel all doubts, which is why we decided to set up a working group composed of employees of the Prague 5 Municipal Office, experts in the field of hygiene and also in the field of quality assessment of pre-school education. The commission’s task will be to ensure an overall audit of the activities carried out by Kroupova Kindergarten. In order to ensure the independence of the commission, we will also offer the opportunity to nominate members to opposition representatives,” commented the mayor and deputy Renáta Zajíčková (ODS) on the procedure of the city councils.
A number of non-standard steps accompanying the media coverage were pointed out by several parents, who provided the school principal in a joint statement.
At the press conference, there was also a brief statement about the false information:
- the plastic bags were not used for serving > they were used to store side dishes at the time of delivery
- reported problem does not persist > was resolved immediately (in November 2021)
- the problem has not occurred for 10 years > hygiene states the period between 2020 and 2021
- the accredited laboratory did not confirm the threat to children’s health
- Mayor Zajíčková rejected the allegation that she knows the kindergarten director personally
The headmistress of the school said during the press conference that there are already threats. She submitted an email communication in which she is being pressured by a fictitious accusation. This was evaluated by the Bar Association as a misuse of the name of the said lawyer.
“As soon as the fictitious indictment came, I was threatened by phone. I was told if I had a clear conscience to get a good lawyer. I was also told that I would be summoned to the police within ten days, which did not happen. In June, a criminal complaint was filed against me and the criminal police came to see me. After submitting the statement, I was told that this is not a case for further investigation and the police are closing it,” says the director of the kindergarten, Zuzana Legnerová.