SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Parents reacted with disbelief Tuesday after authorities shut down a private elementary school in Northern California over allegations of child molestation.
Police said they were proceeding cautiously with the investigation involving Creative Frontiers School in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights.
The California Department of Social Services shut down the school on Monday after several former and current students made allegations against school owner and principal Robert Adams that dated back 15 years. The school's license was suspended.
"I have to point out Mr. Adams is not under arrest and an arrest warrant has not been issued," police spokesman Jon Kempf said. "Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation we want to move slowly and cautiously."
Kempf declined to release further details. A message left with Adams' attorney Lisa Parisi was not immediately returned.
Parent Cristina Azocar said she found the allegations about Adams difficult to believe.
"I didn't have any bad feelings about him," said the 43-year-old mother, whose 3½-year-old son had been in a daycare program at the site before it was closed.
"I actually thought he was pretty nice. The kids seemed to be attached to him and that was one of the things that sold me on the school," she said.
The school serves about 180 students up to sixth grade. Its tree-lined campus in a middle class, suburban setting has a small horse pasture where five horses could be seen Tuesday.
Further back, a large playground is surrounded by red cottage-like classrooms.
On Tuesday, the campus was deserted and swim towels had been left hanging to dry on a fence near the swimming pool. A sign was posted on the office saying the school had been closed by the state.
The school's website says Adams was honored in 2008 as administrator of the year by the Professional Association for Childhood Education, a nonprofit organization for early childhood educators and professionals.
Creative Frontiers School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Citrus Heights is about 20 miles northeast of Sacramento.
Associated Press writer Sheila Kumar contributed to this report from Sacramento, Calif.