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 also agreed to pay $5,500 for her lawyer fees. Included on Tuesdays agenda was a request for the board to approve Hensons selection of Cathy Bickford as permanent principal of Agnes Gray. Id like to take a moment to clarify. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns. 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. 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. Enter your email and password to access comments. Parents and staff are concerned about Superintendent Monica Henson, who has been in the role since July 2021. Login. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. "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. For themselves, for their jobs and for retaliation against students in the schools. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. Dr. Henson's full rebuttal statement can be found here. 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. Oxford Hills School District -- Oxford Hills School District | Aude OHEA would like to report that there was an overwhelming response to support a vote of no confidence for Dr. Henson. The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. We have had no issues with bullying, Arntsen said. 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. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. MSAD 17 | Home WE HAD MULTIP ELEYEWITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. The copy of the resignation agreement says they will pay Henson in return for her resignation . Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. 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. Henson responded in writing to the concerns the following day. Waterbury Superintendent Verna Ruffin. While her granddaughter is back in the classroom, she and other parents are frustrated. The second incident was witnessed by Agnes Gray educator Karin Puiia who was on the public comment list for the evening. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. 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 Oxford County District Attorneys Office said the issue was sent off to another agency and the case is still under review. THE AGREEMENT ALSO BARS THE DISTRICT AND HENSON FROM TALKING ABOUT THIS PUBLIC. If you are concerned about a child being . If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. 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. For more information, visit maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/reporting_abuse. According to the agreement WMTW obtained, Henson agrees she will cooperate and make herself available should any legal claim be filed against the district. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about. The school board launched an investigation into the matter and put Henson on paid administrative leave. Login. Jewish Michigan lawmaker says threats are constant The 22-member board represents the towns of Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris. Monica Henson is accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School last September. 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. Crime and Public Safety | Log in to join the discussion. Please wait for the page to reload. 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. Henson did not address the September incident during Mondays meeting. 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. HARTFORD - Waterbury schools Superintendent Verna Ruffin defended having school resource officers in city schools before state legislators . Dr. Hensons full rebuttal statement can be foundhere. Monica Henson had been on leave. 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. Already registered? Andrews said the executive session would be on the next meetings agenda. Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several area cities Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and intimidation, FROM OXFORD HILLS HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE STORY. "The biggest concern is that there's an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students," Jordan said. 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. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. "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. 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. Learn more. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. That review recently came to an end. Pleasant's McGuirk Arena, Michigan State Police: Man dies by suicide after several-hour standoff with police, Residents object to proposed I-75 ramp removal, Rochester ekes out narrow win over Adams, Stoney Creek to claim first cheer title since 2017, Storm could bring 6-10 inches of heavy snow, Judge: Oxford school employees shielded from lawsuit alleging negligence ahead of deadly mass shooting, Not again. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. Update: Maine DHHS, Oxford County Sheriff investigating MSAD 17 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. Jeni Jordan, president of the Oxford Hills Teachers Association, speaks Tuesday night to School Administrative District 17 directors meeting in Paris. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. Oxford Hills school board names Heather Manchester as acting superintendent The chief curriculum officer is the unanimous choice to lead while Monica Henson is on paid administrative leave.. 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. The teachers union also recently sent a vote of no confidence to the school board. All rights reserved. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of restraining a child resigns 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. 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. NORWAY, Maine (WMTW) -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. "We take those accusations very seriously," Jordan added. She gave no reason for removing him from his coaching job. 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. She has not been in our school.. Educators at the school say the Oxford County Sheriffs Office was there Tuesday conducting interviews about the incident. Nicole Carter. Crime and Public Safety | You dont file a grievance if someone is a bad leader, he said. We want our students and our staff safe. "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. Trampled. Large Majority of Maine Voters Oppose Secret Gender Transitions at There are concerns about COVID and how that's being handled. "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. You will receive an email to complete the registration. "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.". 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. 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. The crowd included employees and others who had to stand in the hallway. One West Paris resident later told the Advertiser Democrat that Puiia fears for her job. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. THE AGREEMENT STATES THAT THE DISTRICT WILL PAY HENSON 1- HUNDRED - 74 THOUSAND AND 500 DOLLARSN I EXCHANGE FOR THAT. 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. The full list of the OHEAs complaints can be foundhere. In all of my years here I have never seen the culture of the district soured in just six months. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF SAFE. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT. And there's some concern about how chain of command is being portrayed in how it should be used, and then how it is being used. 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. She was. "It's a . 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 .