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 22-member board represents the towns of Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris. Find Us . Notably, 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. While her granddaughter is back in the classroom, she and other parents are frustrated. Heres why. 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. Staff have claimed that previously authorized time off has been revoked and that requests for leave are inconsistently approved, even when doctors notes are provided. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday.Oxford Hills Education Association president Jen Jordan told WMTW News 8 that the complaints stemmed from a private vote amongst the association's members where 95% of the members said they have no confidence in Dr. Henson's leadership. 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. AND AS FAR AS WE'RE AWARE, THERE'S BEEN NO INVESTIGATION ON THAT. On Monday . Andrews told Jordan that she would be allowed to finish her statement if she spoke in broad general strokes without specific references. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.". Oxford Hills School District will be a bully-free zone, effective immediately. . 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. Crime and Public Safety | The copy of the resignation agreement says they will pay Henson in return for her resignation . Parents of Oxford Hills Middle School students on the basketball team also addressed the board about their coachs dismissal last year over an incident involving players from a visiting team. She was. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. Jordan also claimed that students fear the superintendent and are being treated unfairly. Oxford Hills school board accepts superintendent's resignation - WMTW "We take those accusations very seriously," Jordan added. It seems the superintendent doesnt understand what the grievance procedure is used for, which (is limited to) contractual disputes.. 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. WMTW News 8 received pictures of the schools code of conduct, which teachers say was given to parents to sign during the first week of school as part of the student handbook. School board chair Natalie Andrews said Monica Henson's resignation was . Oxford Hills Education Association president Jen Jordan told WMTW News 8 that the complaints stemmed from a private vote amongst the associations members where 95% of the members said they have no confidence in Dr. Hensons leadership. The parent, Aranka Matolcsy of South Paris, made a plea to directors to listen carefully to all the statements over the course of the meeting and to take them very seriously. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. Henson was placed on paid . Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. 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. Henson said that Clarke had allowed outstanding bullying incidents to go unchecked, a claim also pushed back on by Arntsen. Jordan said that there were a number of teachers, administrators, and students who witnessed this alleged interaction. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Don't have a commenting profile? Large Majority of Maine Voters Oppose Secret Gender Transitions at You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Enter your email and password to access comments. Oxford Hills School District -- Letter from Superintendent - August 27 To date, no letters have been received during either the first or second quarter.. 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT. 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. Oxford Hills Scholarship Foundation | MSAD 17 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. Login. 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. Last week on Jan. 11, the OHEA held its regular monthly meeting, Jordan told directors. Paula Pasche has worked in a variety of positions, including 32 years as a sports writer, since she joined The Oakland Press. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about. The biggest concern is that theres an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students, Jordan said. Oxford Hills School Board Chair Natalie Andrews told NEWS CENTER Maine the vote was unanimous. 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. All rights reserved. Empowered by their unions stance, Agnes Gray staff who witnessed the incident in September separately filed a report with DHHS on Jan. 20. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. She was possibly referencing Clarkes letter of resignation Dec. 23, which the Advertiser Democrat has published online. 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 One parent told the Advertiser Democrat that Clarke resigned after taking concerns to the board about a day when Henson acted as the substitute principal at the school when she had a medical appointment. I am a mom and grandmother, Morgan said. 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. 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. Nicole Carter. There are concerns about COVID and how that's being handled. "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. Statement on the OHEA No Confidence Vote by sunjournal on Scribd. 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. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. 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. Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several area cities 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. WEST PARIS, Maine An investigation into allegations against the Oxford Hills superintendent has been opened by the Oxford County Sheriffs Office and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Maine Education Association. Jordan was followed by Dennis Boyd, grievance chairman for the union. 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. All rights reserved. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. The full list of the OHEAs complaints can be foundhere. Already have a commenting profile? The full list of the OHEA's complaints can be found here. The Oxford County District Attorneys Office said the issue was sent off to another agency and the case is still under review. 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 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 full list of the OHEA's complaints can be found here. Use the form below to reset your password. Trampled. Here we are four months later and her rights are still being trampled on.. It's 'Read Across America' week in Oxford Hills 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 teachers union also recently sent a vote of no confidence to the school board. The Oxford Hills School District. 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.. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and Waterbury Superintendent Verna Ruffin. The Oxford Hills School District, in partnership with parents and communities, engages and supports all students in diverse and challenging learning opportunities to prepare them to graduate as healthy, responsible and productive citizens, ready to succeed in our global societies. Maine DHHS confirms its investigation is also complete. She gave no reason for removing him from his coaching job. Weekly news from Oxford County and the Norway region, delivered every Thursday at 5 a.m. For themselves, for their jobs and for retaliation against students in the schools. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and On Thursday a meeting will be held to narrow the list of five to two or three finalists. Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Henson instituted the bounty program, hoping to address what she called a "bullying culture" in the district, especially in the middle and high schools. For more information, visit maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/reporting_abuse. 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. Andrews said the decision was reached after consulting with the districts attorney and Steve Bailey, head of the Maine School Board Association. Oxford Hills School Board Temporarily Blocks Gender Schools Details: WebThe policy fight in the Oxford Hills School System is playing out in every Maine school district, as activists both on the Maine Department of Education payroll and at non-profit partner organizations oxford hills superintendent office Verified 6 days ago That review recently came to an end. 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). When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Her statements received pushback from current Grey faculty. And documents obtained by the Maine Wire show how the firm has coached Maine school boards on how to limit parental input when dealing with these controversial topics. "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. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. 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. 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. 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. 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. Create one. 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. Calls may be made anonymously. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. South Paris ME, 04281. Learn more. 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Oxford Hills School District agrees to pay $174K to resigning Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Hensons resignation was unanimously accepted Monday night after School Administrative District 17s directors gave her a unanimous no confidence vote. SHE WENT ON TO FORCEFULLY DENY EVERY ONE OF THE 27 COMPLAINTS GIVEN LT AS NIGHT. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. The police presence was allegedly requested by fearful staff and parents. 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. 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. "It's a . 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. The agreement also bars the district and Henson from talking about the situation publicly. In addition to teachers and ed techs . Crime and Public Safety | The last speaker was Eric Bennett of Oxford, the father of the student at the center of the controversy. School Administrative District 17 Superintendent Monica Henson, standing at left, and school board Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris, standing at right, listen Tuesday night to a district resident asking about rules for public comments during the board meeting in Paris. Crime and Public Safety | The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. DA won't prosecute Oxford Hills superintendent accused of restraining On Jan. 19, directors instructed district Chief Child Services Officer Jan Neureuther to report the incident to DHHS. A Department of Education spokesperson said they have not decided about whether they will revoke Hensons license or take any disciplinary action. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and intimidation 27 complaints were levied against Dr. Monica Henson, including an allegation that she aggressively touched a. Login. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. 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. The principal of Agnes Grey Elementary at the time, Beth Clarke, resigned in December after having been placed on administrative leave in September, and wrote a public letter outlining grievances against Henson. "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 board names Heather Manchester as acting Dr. Hensons full rebuttal statement can be foundhere. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. Copyright 2022 WMTW. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. We have had no issues with bullying, Arntsen said. Oxford Hills teachers cast vote of no confidence for superintendent - WCSH Jeni, I am going to have to stop you there, Andrews said. "There's a lot of fear," Jordan said. Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Henson's resignation was unanimously accepted Monday night after School Administrative District 17s directors gave her a unanimous no confidence vote. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF SAFE. Three parents addressed the board, two with children with disabilities who they said are not receiving proper support. PARIS, Maine (WMTW) - 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 creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear. Oxford Hills School Board accepts superintendent's resignation 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. . Letter from Superintendent - August 27, 2021 The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. 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. Success. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, interviews are set with Jill Lemond, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Oxford Community Schools; and David Pass, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Oxford Community Schools. Crime and Public Safety | AND THAT'S VERY CONCERNING TO US. She has not been in our school.. 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. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Oxford Hills school school to pay former superintendent $174K - WMTW You dont file a grievance if someone is a bad leader, he said. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.. Log in to join the discussion. PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. My blood is boiling. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Tentatively board action to hire the new superintendent will happen March 14, with March 28 tentatively set for the first day of work. No other details about the incident are available. If someone breaks the law, you dont file a grievance.. She's not the only one who said they're having trouble with the district and Henson. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. In all of my years here I have never seen the culture of the district soured in just six months. Enter your email and password to access comments. The Oxford Hills School Board voted on Monday evening to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson, officials say. She was placed on administrative leave in January after being accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. However, when Puiia attempted to address the board she was told by Andrews that specific details could not be shared publicly at that time. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Oxford Hills superintendent resigns amid allegations she assaulted a 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. THE AGREEMENT STATES THAT THE DISTRICT WILL PAY HENSON 1- HUNDRED - 74 THOUSAND AND 500 DOLLARSN I EXCHANGE FOR THAT. Learn more. Already have a commenting profile? Oxford Hills superintendent accused of restraining a child resigns After just six months on the job, Superintendent Monica Henson was placed on administrative leave Jan. 26, following. 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. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. Oxford Hills Superintendent under fire at school board meeting - WABI-TV Hebron Station School Principal Donald Thorne was chosen for the former and accountant Carrie Colley for the latter. 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. "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. "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." OXFORD, Maine (AP) A school superintendent accused of improperly restraining a student at an elementary school last year has resigned. The superintendent of Oxford Hills schools has resigned amid allegations that she assaulted a student last year. We want our students and our staff safe. 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. Alexa Baumgardner and Tobi Worden spoke in defense of coach and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School teacher Riley Chickering, both fighting back tears at times as they spoke of their sons pain at losing their mentor with no explanation. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns - US News To clarify, a vote of no confidence means, a vote showing the majority does not support the policies or leader of the governing body.. "The biggest concern is that there's an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students," Jordan said. The Oxford Hills Teachers Union held its regular meeting on January 11 where a record number of people attended to participate in the vote. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and intimidation, Two women missing from Topsham area found safe in East Hancock, Weekend snowfall means business at Hermon Mountain Ski Area, Authorities searching for missing Greene man, Last round of snow moves in for today, sunshine returns on Sunday. There are concerns about COVID and how thats being handled. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. 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.
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