West Bloomfield man sentenced to 65-year prison term in Indiana 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. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. The crowd included employees and others who had to stand in the hallway. The last speaker was Eric Bennett of Oxford, the father of the student at the center of the controversy. That review recently came to an end. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. The biggest concern is that theres an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students, Jordan said. I implore this board to take everything that you are hearing this evening from everyone here extremely seriously, Matolcsy said. Jeni Jordan, an Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School teacher and president of the Oxford Hills Education Association, presented the board with a list of 27 complaints compiled by educators over the Hensons conduct. She has instituted a number of options I will be glad to share with the board in private session.. She gave no reason for removing him from his coaching job. We want our students and our staff safe. Monica Henson had been on leave. Given the number of issues that are in corrective action at Agnes Gray that I do not want to present in public session, Henson explained, I am of the firm opinion that the best course is not to go through a shuffle of going through a process and potentially ending up with another principal. 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). The police presence was allegedly requested by fearful staff and parents. Oxford Hills School District 232 Main Street South Paris, ME 04281 Phone: 207-743-8972 Fax: (207) 743-2878 The situation occurred Sept. 7 and involved a food fight between students at lunch and an incident with a distressed student. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Those records are also confidential, and the department did not wish to comment on the matter. Please wait for the page to reload. 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. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. Heather Manchester, chief curriculum officer for the Oxford Hills School District in Paris, addresses the board of directors in July 2020. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Id like to take a moment to clarify. On Jan. 19, directors instructed district Chief Child Services Officer Jan Neureuther to report the incident to DHHS. 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. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns. ?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. 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. "It's a . 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 responded in writing to the concerns the following day. 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. All rights reserved. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. Nicole Carter. The Oxford County District Attorneys Office said the issue was sent off to another agency and the case is still under review. Included on Tuesdays agenda was a request for the board to approve Hensons selection of Cathy Bickford as permanent principal of Agnes Gray. Here we are four months later and her rights are still being trampled on.. 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. 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. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. AS YOU SAID.. That includes the resignation agreement where the district said it would pay Henson $174,500. The agreement also bars the district and Henson from talking about the situation publicly. Parents who spoke to NEWS CENTER Maine say they are also concerned. The Foundation has awarded over $2,000,000 in scholarships since 1999. Plow truck drivers prepare for Maine's third snowstorm of the week, Maine Wardens searching for missing Greene man. As for the allegation of inappropriately touching an elementary school student in September, Dr. Henson wrote that the parent's of the student saw no issue with the way the situation was handled. 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. It stated that Henson had put hands on two children while overseeing the school on Sept. 7. 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Maine DHHS confirms its investigation is also complete. The second incident was witnessed by Agnes Gray educator Karin Puiia who was on the public comment list for the evening. 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT. Already have a commenting profile? 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. 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. Dr. Monica Henson forcefully denied all 27 complaints levied against her at a district board meeting. NO CONFIDENCE | thats what the teachers union in MSAD 17 says about its superintendent #NEWSCENTERmaine pic.twitter.com/uzLRdRSuHS. For themselves, for their jobs and for retaliation against students in the schools. 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. Tentatively board action to hire the new superintendent will happen March 14, with March 28 tentatively set for the first day of work. "And as far as we're aware, there's been no investigation on that, and that's very concerning to us. 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. The Evergreen State takes the top spot again in the U.S. News Best States ranking on the strength of its tech sector and other industries. Empowered by their unions stance, Agnes Gray staff who witnessed the incident in September separately filed a report with DHHS on Jan. 20. Dozens of people fill the Oxford Hills School District board room Tuesday night in Paris where some expressed serious concerns about Superintendent Monica Hensons leadership in her first six months on the job. The timeline calls for finalists interviews on Feb. 16 and 17 with a selection of a new superintendent set for March 4. "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. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. School board chair Natalie Andrews said Monica Henson's resignation was . There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. 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. Heather was the person that came to everyones mind for that, as well as having the credentials. Oxford Hills School District will be a bully-free zone, effective immediately. 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. "Being denied access to his classroom is against every recommendation of every advocacy organization and institution," Matolcsy added. Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Hensons resignation was unanimously accepted Monday night after School Administrative District 17s directors gave her a unanimous no confidence vote. 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. Success. 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. A Department of Education spokesperson said they have not decided about whether they will revoke Hensons license or take any disciplinary action. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. All rights reserved. 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. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. PARIS, Maine No confidence. 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. 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. 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. 27 . "THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S AN ACCUSATI ON OF PHYSICAL CONTACT AND VERBAL INTIMIDATION TO STUDENTS. And for her to be making those accusations, she has stepped one day in our school one day. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. The Oxford Hills School District. Crime and Public Safety | "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. Credit: CBS 13/WGME. Create one. Oxford Hills also agreed to pay $5,500 for her lawyer fees. For more information, visit maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/reporting_abuse. Once youve said that we have to follow our grievance procedure. Bickford had stepped into the role temporarily when Clarke took a medical leave during the fall. All Rights Reserved. (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })(); The list also included that employees are concerned with the superintendents use of professional time, of statements she has made to local and national media, and of inappropriate tone and intimidating language expressed in emails to employees. by CBS 13 January 25, 2022. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. Use the form below to reset your password. 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. The same limitations were applied to parents. 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.