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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. The superintendent of the Oxford Hills School Department is being investigated by state and county officials after allegations were made that she inappropriately physically restrained a child. First-year Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Henson received criticism at a school board meeting Monday night for allegedly grabbing an elementary student by two arms in September, along with . Log in to join the discussion. Calls may be made anonymously. OXFORD, Maine (AP) A school superintendent accused of improperly restraining a student at an elementary school last year has resigned. The timeline calls for finalists interviews on Feb. 16 and 17 with a selection of a new superintendent set for March 4. The Oxford Hills School District has agreed to pay their former superintendent Monica Henson $174,500. Heres why. PARIS Directors of Maine School Administrative District 17 unanimously appointed Chief Curriculum Officer Heather Manchester as interim superintendent Monday, five days after Superintendent Monica Henson was placed on paid administrative leave. The chief curriculum officer is the unanimous choice to lead while Monica Henson is on paid administrative leave. Hebron Station School Principal Donald Thorne was chosen for the former and accountant Carrie Colley for the latter. Parents who spoke to NEWS CENTER Maine say they are also concerned. Oxford Hills School District 232 Main Street South Paris, ME 04281 Phone: 207-743-8972 Fax: (207) 743-2878 Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. "THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S AN ACCUSATI ON OF PHYSICAL CONTACT AND VERBAL INTIMIDATION TO STUDENTS. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. Contributed. In cases of bullying, the Superintendent will monitor situations that are not being resolved at the school level and guide the process if necessary. Copyright 2022 WABI. The 22-member board represents the towns of Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris. Henson said that Clarke had allowed outstanding bullying incidents to go unchecked, a claim also pushed back on by Arntsen. The incident was made public Jan. 18 when the Oxford Hills Education Association presented the board with a list of 27 concerns about her leadership and announced members had taken a vote of no confidence in her. "And as far as we're aware, there's been no investigation on that, and that's very concerning to us. In all of my years here I have never seen the culture of the district soured in just six months. Henson is accused of grabbing a student by the arm and pulling him into an office while she was filling in as principal at Agnes Gray Elementary in September. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. A Department of Education spokesperson said they have not decided about whether they will revoke Hensons license or take any disciplinary action. 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. 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. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. 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. Henson said at the time she used a limited restraint technique for a disruptive student. Henson was filling in for the principal for a day at the time of that incident, which resulted in investigations by the Oxford County Sheriffs Department and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, as well as an internal investigation by the school department. They don't represent the majority of the community," Henson said. If someone uses fear and intimidation, if someone leaves outside of the bargaining agreement during the school year because of fear and anxiety, you dont file a grievance. HARTFORD - Waterbury schools Superintendent Verna Ruffin defended having school resource officers in city schools before state legislators . Crime and Public Safety | The full list of the OHEA's complaints can be found here. Oxford Hills School District directors listen Monday night to Eric Bennett about his. Those records are also confidential, and the department did not wish to comment on the matter. "There's a lot of fear of job termination, there's a lot of feeling like we're being watched, that somebody is just waiting for us to mess up so we can be reprimanded. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. "That is just a statement letting the school board know that the staff who voted don't feel that the leadership of Dr. Henson is effective for our school system," Jen Jordan, president of the Oxford Hills Teachers Union, said. Oxford Hills School District MSAD #17 | Paris ME Included on Tuesdays agenda was a request for the board to approve Hensons selection of Cathy Bickford as permanent principal of Agnes Gray. Saatva Mattress Review: Our Pick for the Best Overall Bed of 2023, We Found 12 Cute Planters and Flower Pots That Cost Less Than $25, Here's Where to Watch and Stream Marvel's 'Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Online. "The parent did not object to my handling of the incident, communicated with me for the next couple of days, and has filed no complaints with the Board or expressed any further concern since the notification from me," Dr. Henson wrote. The reaction of the childs parents contrasts with Dr. Hensons statement last week defending herself against the list of complaints given to the board against her. DHHs officials also confirm that they were at the school Tuesday conducting their own interview. Once youve said that we have to follow our grievance procedure. Enter your email and password to access comments. The agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. Baumgardner has led a group of Oxford Hills residents to have Chickering reinstated since he was fired as coach and implored board members and the administration to allow him to return for at least the last few games of the year. 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. She termed Boyds reference at the meeting to breaking the law as categorically false and went on to write that Clarke had falsely categorized an incident in the cafeteria. Boyd said his groups goal regarding grievances is to resolve them well before it gets to an official process, and has successfully avoided it in the recent past. Already have a commenting profile? "In a statement where she forcefully denied the accusations against her, Dr. Henson asked why the teachers had not gone to the board before Tuesday. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. NO CONFIDENCE | thats what the teachers union in MSAD 17 says about its superintendent #NEWSCENTERmaine pic.twitter.com/uzLRdRSuHS. That they would say that shes the lowest ranking when her staff are behind her 100% and always has been.. I told the board that they should be ashamed of themselves that they had this reported by three different people, and they pushed it under the rug until the media got involved.. Use the form below to reset your password. Maine DHHS confirms its investigation is also complete. Jordan read through the list of concerns, starting with allegations that the superintendent put her hands on a student while filling in at an elementary school, that staff have felt they are under investigation, that personal information has been shared by the superintendent and that discipline of staff has been inconsistent and often unfair. Andrews said the executive session would be on the next meetings agenda. PARIS, Maine (WMTW) - The Oxford Hills school board voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson. They also claimed that the mandatory masking standards are not consistently followed and there is little concern about transmission rates of COVID-19, which have recently spiked. 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 "The biggest concern is that there's an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students," Jordan said. It stated that Henson had put hands on two children while overseeing the school on Sept. 7. "There's a lot of fear," Jordan said. Last week on Jan. 11, the OHEA held its regular monthly meeting, Jordan told directors. They will also pay her $5,500 in legal fees. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. The alleged incident happened Sept. 9 at Agnes Grey Elementary School, where Henson was filling in as principal for the day. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. 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 last speaker was Eric Bennett of Oxford, the father of the student at the center of the controversy. 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. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Oxford school superintendent interviews this week open to public, Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several area cities, Hazel Park man ordered to trial in boxcutter attack, West Bloomfield man sentenced to 65-year prison term in Indiana, Jewish Michigan lawmaker says threats are constant, Police: Alleged iPhone thief admits to similar crimes from people advertising on Facebook Marketplace, Photo gallery from the Division 1 competitive cheer finals at Mt. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. All Rights Reserved. On Monday, Jan. 31, interviews will be with John Bernia, Chief Academic Officer, Warren Consolidated Schools; and Ken Weaver, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, Oxford Community Schools. While neither woman was allowed to refer to specific situations affecting their children during the meeting, Matolcsy had previously written on social media that she had been given two different reasons for her childs injury by different staff members and was denied a request for a third-party service provider to observe her child in his classroom environment, a practice that had been allowed in the past. For more information, visit maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/reporting_abuse. AND AGN,O TAI OUR TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN ASKED OR QUESTIONED" "I'M UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE WHE ERA TEACHERS' UNION IS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY IN THE EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. We want our students and our staff safe. And for her to be making those accusations, she has stepped one day in our school one day. The Oxford Hills School District has agreed to pay their former superintendent Monica Henson $174,500. 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. West Bloomfield man sentenced to 65-year prison term in Indiana Jordan said that there were a number of teachers, administrators, and students who witnessed this alleged interaction. "Im unaware of any other school system in the state where a teachers union is asked to participate directly in the evaluation of the superintendent of schools," Dr. Henson wrote. All this uproar from the Oxford Hills Education Association is puzzling, given that they have made no previous expression of concern to the School Board using the channels that are available to any staff, Henson wrote. They said they are happy the school board is listening and will be holding an open forum to share more of their concerns. The police presence was allegedly requested by fearful staff and parents. On Monday . Monica Henson had been on leave for months before she resigned from Oxford Hills early last week. 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. Henson had been on paid leave since January over allegations she pulled an elementary student by their arms in September. Login. While the districts investigation remains confidential, not all records are shielded under Maine law. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. The childs parents, Eric Bennett and Ashley Rowe, did not learn the full details of the incident until reading it in the press last week. However, when Puiia attempted to address the board she was told by Andrews that specific details could not be shared publicly at that time. Learn more. "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." Login. The copy of the resignation agreement says they will pay Henson in return for her resignation . If someone breaks the law, you dont file a grievance.. NORWAY, Maine 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. Or email them to: d.hertell@msad17.org . 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. She instead outlined the ways in which the school had been failing under Clarkes leadership, claiming that an assistant administrator had ranked Clarke as the worst principal in the district. IN RETURN FOR HER RESIATGNION AND PROMISE TO FILE NO CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT. 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT. Police: Alleged iPhone thief admits to similar crimes from people advertising on Facebook Marketplace Members asked if we would allow a number of concerns during the forum regarding the leadership of Dr. Monica Henson we had an unprecedented number of staff show up for that meeting. She was placed on leave Jan. 26. Morgan got her local legislator and the Maine Department of education involved, and her granddaughter was allowed back in school the following week with a facemask after a note from her doctor. Find Us . 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. School board chair Natalie Andrews said Monica Henson's resignation was . It seems the superintendent doesnt understand what the grievance procedure is used for, which (is limited to) contractual disputes.. Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris interrupted Jordan. The biggest concern is that theres an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students, Jordan said. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. She's not the only one who said they're having trouble with the district and Henson. She was placed on administrative leave in January after being accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. "Im unaware of any other school system in the state where a teachers union is asked to participate directly in the evaluation of the superintendent of schools," Dr. Henson wrote. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. Credit: CBS 13/WGME. Boyd listed a series of situations that cannot be addressed by an official grievance. 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. 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. 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. Jewish Michigan lawmaker says threats are constant A phone number could not be located for Henson, and she didn't immediately respond to electronic messages. It has come to our attention that there is perception that because no grievances have been filed there is no validity to complaints, Boyd said. 232 Main Street. 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. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.". PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. I am extremely angry, Rowe told WMTW News 8. Dr. Hensons full rebuttal statement can be foundhere. "There's a lot of fear of job termination, there's a lot of feeling like we're being watched, that somebody is just waiting for us to mess up so we can be reprimanded. Hazel Park man ordered to trial in boxcutter attack That is it. Already registered? Dr. Henson's full rebuttal statement can be found here. Oxford Hills School District will be a bully-free zone, effective immediately. She now covers COVID-related issues and northern Oakland County. "Being denied access to his classroom is against every recommendation of every advocacy organization and institution," Matolcsy added. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. Crime and Public Safety | Parents are still concerned. We have had no issues with bullying, Arntsen said. The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. ? 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.. As for the allegation of inappropriately touching an elementary school student in September, Dr. Henson wrote that the parents of the student saw no issue with the way the situation was handled. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. During directors comments, Bob Jewell of Paris said a vote of no confidence against an administrator hired by the board, just six months after starting, was actually a no confidence vote against the board. It should not be allowed at all. If you are concerned about a child being neglected or abused, call Maines 24-hour hotline at 800-452-1999 or 711 to speak with a child protective specialist.