MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee Public Schools staff member is under investigation after a 3-year-old student allegedly was struck at Manitoba School, according to the child’s grandmother and a letter sent to school families. Katie Ryckman said her grandson came home Sept. 14 with two visible bruises on the back of his leg. She said the child told her that a staff member hit him with an object resembling a stick. “When I asked him what happened, all he could do was cry,” Ryckman said. Ryckman said the child has since been distressed by the prospect of returning to school, crying and asking not to go when he sees the building. The family met with the school’s principal and has spoken with Milwaukee police, the state Department of Children and Families and district officials, she said. Milwaukee police confirmed that a child-abuse investigation was underway. In a Sept. 16 message to families, Manitoba Principal Christopher Garza said the school had received a report that a staff member spanked a student. Garza said the school contacted police and Child Protective Services and was conducting its own investigation. He also said the employee was not working in the building at that time. Ryckman said she saw the staff member at the school again Sept. 22 and questioned why the person had been allowed back while the investigation remained active. The district said it could not comment beyond the information included in its message to families and staff because the matter involved personnel. No criminal charges had been filed as of Sept. 22. Ryckman said she was scheduled to meet with the district attorney on Sept. 23 and was considering moving her grandson to another school. “I’m not going to leave him there feeling in a place that he’s not safe because school is supposed to be a safe place,” she said.