So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about. The crowd included employees and others who had to stand in the hallway. 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. HARTFORD - Waterbury schools Superintendent Verna Ruffin defended having school resource officers in city schools before state legislators . On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. She now covers COVID-related issues and northern Oakland County. 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. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns. Parents who spoke to NEWS CENTER Maine say they are also concerned. Tentatively board action to hire the new superintendent will happen March 14, with March 28 tentatively set for the first day of work. The agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. And for her to be making those accusations, she has stepped one day in our school one day. Andrews said the executive session would be on the next meetings agenda. Empowered by their unions stance, Agnes Gray staff who witnessed the incident in September separately filed a report with DHHS on Jan. 20. The position was eliminated and the district split the duties between a chief operating officer to oversee technology, facilities, athletics and transportation, and a chief financial officer to lead the business office. "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. I am beyond frustrated and so overwhelmed that they would even make that claim against her, said Grey teacher Rebekah Arntsen. THE AGREEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO HENSON.. D AN SHE RESIGNED THIS PAST MONDAY. PARIS, Maine (WMTW) - Oxford Hills Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the district board of directors into a September. Months ago Oxford Superintendent Tim Throne announced his retirement that was due to happen in January. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.". 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. "There are some vocal constituencies, but I don't think they represent the majority of the staff. We want our students and our staff safe. 27 . 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. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. I am a mom and grandmother, Morgan said. 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. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Heres why. All rights reserved. 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. DHHs officials also confirm that they were at the school Tuesday conducting their own interview. ?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. Enter your email and password to access comments. 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. Already registered? 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. "We take those accusations very seriously," Jordan added. The situation occurred Sept. 7 and involved a food fight between students at lunch and an incident with a distressed student. 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. 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. The student fell while she pulled him into an office, and the superintended fell on top of the student and used a restraint technique. Success. 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. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. 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. IN RETURN FOR HER RESIATGNION AND PROMISE TO FILE NO CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT. She has not been in our school.. Please wait for the page to reload. ? . Learn more. They will also pay her $5,500 in legal fees. The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. 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. Oxford Hills School District directors listen Monday night to Eric Bennett about his. Learn more. Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several area cities 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. 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. 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 gave no reason for removing him from his coaching job. We want our students and our staff safe. 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. Once youve said that we have to follow our grievance procedure. Already have a commenting profile? That's what the union representing teachers in the Oxford Hills School District said about Superintendent Monica Henson when they put it to a vote. "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. Maine school to pay former superintendent $174K, according to resignation agreement, CLARKE JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO TO EXPLAIN THE CONDITIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. 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. Don't have a commenting profile? PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. 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. Login. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. They will also pay her $5,500 in legal fees. Monica Henson, the former Oxford Hills School District superintendent, was filling in as principal at Agnes Gray Elementary and is accused of grabbing a student by the arm and pulling him into an . On Monday, they unanimously appointed her acting superintendent. Andrews told Jordan that she would be allowed to finish her statement if she spoke in broad general strokes without specific references. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. 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. It seems the superintendent doesnt understand what the grievance procedure is used for, which (is limited to) contractual disputes.. A school superintendent accused of improperly restraining a student at an elementary school last year has resigned. 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. 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. Jeni Jordan, president of the Oxford Hills Teachers Association, speaks Tuesday night to School Administrative District 17 directors meeting in Paris.