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 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), RFK Jr. apologizes after condemnation for Anne Frank comment, Costco could be building its 1st store in Maine, Residents in one western Maine town look to curb Poland Springs appetite for water, Theres no feeling like it: Last-second layup gives Brewer boys basketball its 1st state championship, Couples recreation business cultivates 'slice of heaven' in Maine highlands, Fine-dining restaurant in northern Maine adds bed and breakfast, 2 teenagers charged after a man in Calais was shot on a walking trail, Maine photographer snaps shots of bobcat thats blind in one eye, Nor'easter could dump a foot of snow on parts of Maine Saturday, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 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. Henson responded in writing to the concerns the following day. 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 news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. Oxford Hills School District 232 Main Street South Paris, ME 04281 Phone: 207-743-8972 Fax: (207) 743-2878 She said the union overwhelmingly passed a vote no confidence for Superintendent Monica Henson on Jan. 11. However, when Puiia attempted to address the board she was told by Andrews that specific details could not be shared publicly at that time. Credit: CBS 13/WGME. The Oxford Hills School Board voted on Monday evening to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson, officials say. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.". THE AGREEMENT ALSO BARS THE DISTRICT AND HENSON FROM TALKING ABOUT THIS PUBLIC. Jeni, I am going to have to stop you there, Andrews said. She was placed on administrative leave in January after being accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. It should not be allowed at all. IN I. T. THE OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WILL PAY FORMER SUPERINTENDENT MONICA HENSON .. Oxford Hills Education Association Concerns by sunjournal on Scribd. Theres a lot of fear, Jordan said. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. People are feeling afraid. "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. 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. Already have a commenting profile? 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. Oxford Hills School District directors listen Monday night to Eric Bennett about his. WE HAD MULTIP ELEYEWITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. 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. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. "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." 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. Months ago Oxford Superintendent Tim Throne announced his retirement that was due to happen in January. The school board launched an investigation into the matter and put Henson on paid administrative leave. 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. PARIS, Maine No confidence. 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. Dr. Monica Henson forcefully denied all 27 complaints levied against her at a district board meeting. "Every time he smiles, and I see the hole in his face, I'm reminded that the oversight in this district isn't where it needs to be," said Aranka Matolcsy of her 10-year-old son. 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. 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. 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. If you are concerned about a child being . 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. At an earlier press conference, Agnes Gray employee Brenda Parent, who had been substitute teaching on the day and witnessed the incident, said she wrote a letter to the board detailing what had happened, but it was ignored. 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. Statement on the OHEA No Confidence Vote by sunjournal on Scribd. Henson was placed on paid . Hebron Station School Principal Donald Thorne was chosen for the former and accountant Carrie Colley for the latter. In cases of bullying, the Superintendent will monitor situations that are not being resolved at the school level and guide the process if necessary. The Oxford Hills School District. We want our students and our staff safe. 27 . 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). You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. Please wait for the page to reload. 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. The full list of the OHEAs complaints can be foundhere. "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. "THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S AN ACCUSATI ON OF PHYSICAL CONTACT AND VERBAL INTIMIDATION TO STUDENTS. 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. Dr. Hensons full rebuttal statement can be foundhere. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. Please wait for the page to reload. In all of my years here I have never seen the culture of the district soured in just six months. 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. PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. 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. Use the form below to reset your password. Don't have a commenting profile? 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. DHHs officials also confirm that they were at the school Tuesday conducting their own interview. face shields may be an alternative for those students with documented medical or behavioral challenges who are unable to wear masks. THE AGREEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO HENSON.. D AN SHE RESIGNED THIS PAST MONDAY. Vicki Morgan, grandmother and guardian of the second child, had addressed the board at a meeting several months ago and spoke again Tuesday night to reiterate that her childs rights were being violated daily. Henson also claimed that the school did not have a code of conduct in its student handbook. She was possibly referencing Clarkes letter of resignation Dec. 23, which the Advertiser Democrat has published online. The position of assistant superintendent was eliminated when Patrick Hartnett left in October2021 to become an assistant professor at the University of Southern Maines School of Education and Human Development. 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. 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. Jordan was followed by Dennis Boyd, grievance chairman for the union. HARTFORD - Waterbury schools Superintendent Verna Ruffin defended having school resource officers in city schools before state legislators . When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. "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. No other details about the incident are available. ACCORDING TO THE RESIGNATION AGREEMENT WE OBTAINED.. HENSON AGREES THAT SHE WILL COOPERATE AND MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE SHOULD ANY LEGAL CLAIM BE FILED AGAINST THE DISTRI. I am beyond frustrated and so overwhelmed that they would even make that claim against her, said Grey teacher Rebekah Arntsen. Empowered by their unions stance, Agnes Gray staff who witnessed the incident in September separately filed a report with DHHS on Jan. 20. The chief curriculum officer is the unanimous choice to lead while Monica Henson is on paid administrative leave. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Three parents addressed the board, two with children with disabilities who they said are not receiving proper support. Jordan said that there were a number of teachers, administrators, and students who witnessed this alleged interaction. I am extremely angry, Rowe told WMTW News 8. by CBS 13 January 25, 2022. Learn more. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. Crime and Public Safety | 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. You dont file a grievance if someone is a bad leader, he said. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and intimidation, FROM OXFORD HILLS HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE STORY. ?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. 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. On Jan. 19, directors instructed district Chief Child Services Officer Jan Neureuther to report the incident to DHHS. 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 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. South Paris ME, 04281. Here we are four months later and her rights are still being trampled on.. They don't represent the majority of the community," Henson said. Teachers union lists complaints against Monica Henson, six months after she started the job. 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. The biggest concern is that theres an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students, Jordan said. The teachers union also recently sent a vote of no confidence to the school board. Monica Henson had been on leave for months before she resigned from Oxford Hills early last week. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. 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. 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. If someone breaks the law, you dont file a grievance.. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. 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. Heather Manchester, chief curriculum officer for the Oxford Hills School District in Paris, addresses the board of directors in July 2020. 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 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. Henson did not address the September incident during Mondays meeting. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. She is a disabled child, and her rights have been trampled on. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. 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. ? 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. 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. CT SHE HAD BEEN ON PAID LEAVE SINCE JANUARY OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE PULLED AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT BY THE ARMS BACK IN SEPTEMBER. Matolcsy said her son, who has Down syndrome, lost a tooth during an incident in his classroom. Don't have a commenting profile? Success. 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. 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. Maine Superintendent Accused of Restraining Child Resigns. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. I recommend that we make Cathy the permanent principal. The copy of the resignation agreement says they will pay Henson in return for her resignation . Weekly news from Oxford County and the Norway region, delivered every Thursday at 5 a.m. That forum has not yet been scheduled. 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. 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. NO CONFIDENCE | thats what the teachers union in MSAD 17 says about its superintendent #NEWSCENTERmaine pic.twitter.com/uzLRdRSuHS. 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. Police: Alleged iPhone thief admits to similar crimes from people advertising on Facebook Marketplace The Foundation has awarded over $2,000,000 in scholarships since 1999. "And as far as we're aware, there's been no investigation on that, and that's very concerning to us. "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. I implore this board to take everything that you are hearing this evening from everyone here extremely seriously, Matolcsy said. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. Monica Henson is accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School last September. "The biggest concern is that there's an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students," Jordan said. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.. 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.