I will not stand for it and I believe most of the people here will join me we will form what we need to in terms of public oversight to ensure that our children, our students and our teachers are safe, respected and given the oversight they deserve, especially those with special needs.. Theres a lot of fear of job termination, theres a lot of feeling like were being watched, that somebody is just waiting for us to mess up so we can be reprimanded. The alleged incident happened Sept. 9 at Agnes Grey Elementary School, where Henson was filling in as principal for the day. Already have a commenting profile? Oxford school superintendent interviews this week open to public The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. Henson, who was hired in July 2021, is under investigation by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Oxford County Sheriffs Office after allegations that she improperly physically restrained a child at Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris last September. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns. Tensions erupt at SAD 17 board meeting over no-confidence vote of Here we are four months later and her rights are still being trampled on.. She said educators have expressed concern about the superintendent taking and posting pictures of students and staff on her personal social media accounts without their consent. She said she asked for observing rights for her and her son's clinician, which was allowed by the previous superintendent. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. The student fell while she pulled him into an office, and the superintended fell on top of the student and used a restraint technique. Log in to join the discussion. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns - US News The Oxford Hills Scholarship Foundation was established in 1998 and has benefited from Three donations of $1,000,000 each from Robert and Sandra Bahre. I am raising my granddaughter, who has an IEP, or Individualized Education Plan. That includes the resignation agreement where the district said it would pay Henson $174,500. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat file photo, We knew we had to put someone in front of the staff who was comfortable and had a running knowledge of our district, Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris said after the afternoon emergency board meeting. MSAD 17 | Home OXFORD, Maine (AP) A school superintendent accused of improperly restraining a student at an elementary school last year has resigned. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. "There are some vocal constituencies, but I don't think they represent the majority of the staff. Crime and Public Safety | Monica Henson had been on leave. While the districts investigation remains confidential, not all records are shielded under Maine law. Copyright 2022 WABI. His motion was seconded and approved by the board. Success. Superintendent of Schools (207) 743-8972 h.manchester@msad17.org Steve Ciembroniewicz Assistant Superintendent (207) 743-8972 s.ciembroniewicz@msad17.org Jan Neureuther Chief Student Services Officer (207) 743-8972 j.neureuther@msad17.org Brandy Moore Special Education Assistant Director 207-743-8972 b.moore@msad17.org Debra Hertell On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. In her rebuttal statement, Henson acknowledged using restraint on one child, adding there had been no injury to them and that the parent of the student made no objection in subsequent communications with her. "THE PARENT DID NOT OBJECT TO MY HANDLING OF THE INCIDENT, COMMUNICATED WITH ME FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,ND A HAS FILED NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE BOARD OR EXPRESSED ANY FURTH ER CONCERN SINCE THE NOTIFICATION FROM ME." Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. The last speaker was Eric Bennett of Oxford, the father of the student at the center of the controversy. 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. OVER 90% OF TEACHERS UNION MEMBERS GAVE HER A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN A PRIVATE VOTE, THE RESULTS OF WHICH THEY BROUGHT TO THE DISTRICT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS LAST NIGHT. Oxford Hills superintendent resigns amid allegations she assaulted a Interviews with the five candidates for superintendent of the Oxford Community Schools will be held this week at three special Board of Education meetings that are open to the public. The superintendent of Oxford Hills schools has resigned amid allegations that she assaulted a student last year. And for her to be making those accusations, she has stepped one day in our school one day. SOUTH PARIS (WGME) - The controversial superintendent of Oxford Hills schools, Monica Henson, has been put on paid administrative leave while allegations of her assaulting a child are investigated. REGION Educators in Oxford Hills have pulled out all the stops to pack as many books as possible into this week's annual Read Across America event. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. Tumult for Agnes Gray continues as more speak out about September The timeline calls for finalists interviews on Feb. 16 and 17 with a selection of a new superintendent set for March 4. According to the agreement WMTW obtained, Henson agrees she will cooperate and make herself available should any legal claim be filed against the district.Henson had been on paid leave since January over allegations she pulled an elementary student by their arms in September. "The biggest concern is that there's an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students," Jordan said. "We take those accusations very seriously," Jordan added. "It's a . JORDAN SAYS SHE HOPES TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE SURE STAFF AND. Statement on the OHEA No Confidence Vote by sunjournal on Scribd. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Some directors questioned why appointing Bickford permanently should stray from the normal process of posting the position and convening a panel to interview candidates before hiring others. She gave no reason for removing him from his coaching job. Contributed. Id like to take a moment to clarify. Login. Teachers union lists complaints against Monica Henson, six months after she started the job. She now covers COVID-related issues and northern Oakland County. She was. "We take those accusations very seriously," Jordan added. Copyright 2022 WMTW. Henson provided a lengthy written statement early Wednesday to the Advertiser Democrat, noting that a no-confidence vote is a sign that an administrator is doing the work they were hired to do. All Rights Reserved. Jordan said that there were a number of teachers, administrators, and students who witnessed this alleged interaction. Firefighters used ladders to rescue at least five people from a burning Indianapolis apartment building where others reportedly jumped from third-floor windows to escape the smoke and flames, A mistrial was declared after a jury in southern Arizona was unable to reach a verdict on a murder charge against a man accused of killing a 6-year-old girl, A now-shuttered Wisconsin substance abuse center and its CEO owe the government more than $2 million in a Medicaid fraud case. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and intimidation, FROM OXFORD HILLS HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE STORY. Crime and Public Safety | On Jan. 19, directors instructed district Chief Child Services Officer Jan Neureuther to report the incident to DHHS. Vicki Morgan, grandmother and guardian of the second child, had addressed the board at a meeting several months ago and spoke again Tuesday night to reiterate that her childs rights were being violated daily. Bangor school system continues mentor program during challenging COVID-19 school year, 3 things to know from Maine's COVID briefing: omicron infections affecting schools, hospitals & testing, Lewiston requests state waive minimum requirement for school days due to COVID challenges. Andrews told Jordan that she would be allowed to finish her statement if she spoke in broad general strokes without specific references. In the Damariscotta and Oxford Hills school systems, Drummond Woodsum has worked with left-wing school board members to write and defend the districts' gender identity policies. However, when Puiia attempted to address the board she was told by Andrews that specific details could not be shared publicly at that time. Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris interrupted Jordan. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Tentatively board action to hire the new superintendent will happen March 14, with March 28 tentatively set for the first day of work. We want our students and our staff safe. Monica Henson is accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School last September. The agreement also bars the district and Henson from talking about the situation publicly. He extended his stay following the Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High School to give the Board more time to deal with the selection process after working to get Oxford High School reopened. According to the agreement WMTW obtained, Henson agrees she will cooperate and make herself available should any legal claim be filed against the district. I implore this board to take everything that you are hearing this evening from everyone here extremely seriously, Matolcsy said. Sign up and stay in the know with weekday news updates in your inbox at 1 p.m. Oxford Hills school board names Heather Manchester as acting superintendent, Manage your Advertiser Democrat Subscription, Manage your Livermore Falls Advertiser Subscription, Manage your Franklin Journal Subscription, Manage your Rumford Falls Times Subscription, Manage Your Rangeley Highlander Subscription, Sun Media Groups Western Maine Weekly Subscriptions, is under investigation by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, The position was eliminated and the district split the duties, Small crowd gathers in South Paris to request MSAD 17 superintendent resign, MSAD 17 board of directors puts superintendent on administrative leave, SAD 17 superintendent responds to union complaints after no-confidence vote, Tensions erupt at SAD 17 board meeting over no-confidence vote of superintendent, Police ask the public to stay off the roads as storm makes driving conditions dangerous, Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout looms, The environmental disaster lurking inside your chocolate bar, Sen. Collins was lone Republican to oppose confirmation of Texas judge wholl rule on abortion pill, Man accused of stealing pot, starting fight at Auburn cannabis store, Auburn plans to cut two dozen positions from proposed school budget. "Being denied access to his classroom is against every recommendation of every advocacy organization and institution," Matolcsy added. THE AGREEMENT STATES THAT THE DISTRICT WILL PAY HENSON 1- HUNDRED - 74 THOUSAND AND 500 DOLLARSN I EXCHANGE FOR THAT. Henson had been on paid leave since January over allegations she pulled an elementary student by their arms in September. We want our students and our staff safe. Letter from Superintendent - August 27, 2021 Multiple People Rescued From Burning Indianapolis Building, Mistrial Declared in Tucson for Man Charged in Girl's Death, Wisconsin Substance Center Owes $2m in Medicaid Fraud Case. Crime and Public Safety | The full list of the OHEAs complaints can be foundhere. "Every time he smiles, and I see the hole in his face, I'm reminded that the oversight in this district isn't where it needs to be," said Aranka Matolcsy of her 10-year-old son. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about. No other details about the incident are available. Clarke had noted in her letter that Henson forbid her from having contact with any of the students Henson had disciplined while at the school. Director William Rolfe of West Paris said it was his preference and in the best interest of the West Paris community to table discussion of a permanent hire until the board has a chance to review the issues at the school in executive session. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. The full list of the OHEA's complaints can be found here. Maine DHHS confirms its investigation is also complete. Investigations open into Oxford Hills superintendent accused of The Oxford Hills School District. There are a number of reasons staff members chose to take a vote, including a situation where the superintendent allegedly used force against a student. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. The Oxford Hills School District has agreed to pay their former superintendent Monica Henson $174,500.The copy of the resignation agreement says they will pay Henson in return for her resignation and promise to file no claims against the district. If you are concerned about a child being . And theres some concern about how chain of command is being portrayed in how it should be used, and then how it is being used. According to the Maine Department of Education,face shields may be an alternative for those students with documented medical or behavioral challenges who are unable to wear masks. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Create one. Oxford Hills school board accepts superintendent's resignation Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson was put on administrative leave in January after allegations that she forcibly restrained an. There are concerns about COVID and how that's being handled. Henson responded in writing to the concerns the following day. A Department of Education spokesperson said they have not decided about whether they will revoke Hensons license or take any disciplinary action. The agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. Empowered by their unions stance, Agnes Gray staff who witnessed the incident in September separately filed a report with DHHS on Jan. 20. The superintendent of the Oxford Hills school district was accused Tuesday night of creating a culture of fear and intimidation amongst students and teachers alike in her first year on the job.27 complaints were levied against Dr. Monica Henson, including an allegation that she aggressively touched a distressed elementary school student in September, while filling in as principal, after an incident involving that student. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and "And as far as we're aware, there's been no investigation on that, and that's very concerning to us. We want our students and our staff safe. Oxford Hills School District directors listen Monday night to Eric Bennett about his. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Heres why. Included on Tuesdays agenda was a request for the board to approve Hensons selection of Cathy Bickford as permanent principal of Agnes Gray. For more information, visit maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/reporting_abuse. ?27 COMPLAINTS WERE BROUGHT TO THEOA BRD LT AS NIGHT AT A MEETING, BUT THE MOST SERIOUS COMPLAINT INVOLVED AN INCIDENT AT AGNES GRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER WHEN DR. HENSON ALLEGEDLY P UT HER HANDS ON A STUDENT AGGRESSIVELY, SOMETHING THE TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT SAYS HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED TO THIS POINT. She's not the only one who said they're having trouble with the district and Henson. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that.Other accusations include sharing inappropriate images of alcohol and weapons to district employees, doling out inconsistent discipline to staff, and creating a fearful environment for students with a "bounty" system rewarding students with money for turning in other students for inappropriate social media posts. Jewish Michigan lawmaker says threats are constant The Oxford Hills School Board voted on Monday evening to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson, officials say. The agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. The 22-member board represents the towns of Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris. CT SHE HAD BEEN ON PAID LEAVE SINCE JANUARY OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE PULLED AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT BY THE ARMS BACK IN SEPTEMBER. Tensions erupt at SAD 17 board meeting over no-confidence vote of superintendent, Manage your Advertiser Democrat Subscription, Manage your Livermore Falls Advertiser Subscription, Manage your Franklin Journal Subscription, Manage your Rumford Falls Times Subscription, Manage Your Rangeley Highlander Subscription, Sun Media Groups Western Maine Weekly Subscriptions, Superintendent Monica Henson responds to SAD 17 complaints, Oxford Hills Education Association Concerns, SAD 17 superintendent responds to union complaints after no-confidence vote, Forty years in, Paris Cape Historical Society keeps collecting history, More than 50,000 acres in Maine to be conserved, Police ask the public to stay off the roads as storm makes driving conditions dangerous, Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout looms, The environmental disaster lurking inside your chocolate bar, Sen. Collins was lone Republican to oppose confirmation of Texas judge wholl rule on abortion pill. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. To clarify, a vote of no confidence means, a vote showing the majority does not support the policies or leader of the governing body.. Find Us . It stated that Henson had put hands on two children while overseeing the school on Sept. 7. PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. The OHEA was invited to submit a quarterly letter to the Board outlining how they perceive things are going with the new administration, with the express purpose that the letters would be used as part of my performance evaluation by the Board. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. The Oxford Hills School District has agreed to pay their former superintendent Monica Henson $174,500. PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. Already registered? For themselves, for their jobs and for retaliation against students in the schools. They don't represent the majority of the community," Henson said. Oxford Hills Scholarship Foundation | MSAD 17 Addressing the situation with Chickering, Henson wrote in her statement that while she had removed a stipended coaching assignment from the teacher she had not not terminated him. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. On Thursday a meeting will be held to narrow the list of five to two or three finalists. While her granddaughter is back in the classroom, she and other parents are frustrated. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. 200,000 lose power as snowstorm blankets Detroit region, Catholic priest Joseph 'Father Jack' Baker sentenced for child rape, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT. Henson said at the time she used a limited restraint technique for a disruptive student. That is it. Oxford Hills School District -- Letter from Superintendent - August 27 Oxford Hills also agreed to pay $5,500 for her lawyer fees. And the OHEA has neglected to take advantage of that opportunity and instead try to hijack the public narrative with a collection of falsehoods and vague expressions of concern that is easily disprovable.. In her resignation letter, Henson wrote I am proud of the changes I was able to implement and the management changes I made., Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat.