Children return to pumpkin patch

Summit Charter Academy - Mathew Campus’ kindergartners laughed and played at Changala Pumpkin Patch Wednesday morning, oblivious to the drama surrounding the cancelation of their field trip announced the night before.

Following a rough night that included name-calling, bullying, threats of physical violence and death, having the business egged, and the parking of a Tulare County Sheriff deputy outside the business, the school district called the owners of the pumpkin patch, asking if they could return.

"Former principal Cheyenne Ruffa was gracious enough to call me and we settled this," said Liz Changala, owner. "I am happy to have the children here. I never canceled. [The teachers] did. It was never my intent to exclude or ban them."

School Principal Timothy Torres-Mofhitz said he was happy everything was resolved.

“It appears it was all a miscommunication that is all resolved. We’re extremely happy to be here and the miscommunication resolved,” Timothy Torres-Mofhitz said. “Things were blown out of proportion. We do appreciate the Changala family and are happy to be here.”

Read the full story in Thursday’s paper.

See http://www.recorderonline.com/news/patch-54382-pumpkin-changala.html for the initial story.