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. Oxford Hills School District 232 Main Street South Paris, ME 04281 Phone: 207-743-8972 Fax: (207) 743-2878 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. 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. 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 Oxford Hills Scholarship Foundation was established in 1998 and has benefited from Three donations of $1,000,000 each from Robert and Sandra Bahre. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 WMTW. "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. Create one. They will also pay her $5,500 in legal fees. The full list of the OHEA's complaints can be found here. AND THE OHEA HAS NEGLECTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND INSTEAD TRY TO HIJACK THE PUBLIC NARRATIVE WITH A COLLTIECON OF FALSEHOODS AND VAGUE EXPRESSIONS OF "CONCERN" THAT IS EASILY DISPROVABLE." "Being denied access to his classroom is against every recommendation of every advocacy organization and institution," Matolcsy added. THE AGREEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO HENSON.. D AN SHE RESIGNED THIS PAST MONDAY. She gave no reason for removing him from his coaching job. Crime and Public Safety | Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. 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. "We take those accusations very seriously," Jordan added. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. Large Majority of Maine Voters Oppose Secret Gender Transitions at That is it. Monica Henson had been on leave for months before she resigned from Oxford Hills early last week. 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. Already have a commenting profile? It seems the superintendent doesnt understand what the grievance procedure is used for, which (is limited to) contractual disputes.. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interviews will start at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford Middle School. That they would say that shes the lowest ranking when her staff are behind her 100% and always has been.. She was. One West Paris resident later told the Advertiser Democrat that Puiia fears for her job. Oxford Hills school board names Heather Manchester as acting The situation occurred Sept. 7 and involved a food fight between students at lunch and an incident with a distressed student. The Oxford County District Attorneys Office said the issue was sent off to another agency and the case is still under review. Much of the anger was rooted in the resignation of Agnes Gray Elementary Schools longtime principal , Beth Clarke, late last year. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 WABI. PORTLAND A Maine superintendent who resigned amid multiple investigations into her conduct will get a serious payout from the Oxford Hills School District. The school board launched an investigation into the matter and put Henson on paid administrative leave. 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 students parents learned the full details of the incident after the Jan. 18 school board meeting and filed a complaint against Henson with the Sheriffs Office on Jan. 21. Vicki Morgan said her 10-year-old granddaughter has an anxiety disorder and a learning disability, and her doctor advises she doesn't wear a face mask, and wear a face shield instead. School Resource police officers from the district were at the Tuesday Board of Directors meeting. It's 'Read Across America' week in Oxford Hills Hebron Station School Principal Donald Thorne was chosen for the former and accountant Carrie Colley for the latter. Superintendent Henson told NEWS CENTER Maine she has received a lot of support from parents and staff during this process, and of the people who have reached out to her, only one has been negative. "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. 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. Oxford school superintendent interviews this week open to public Other teachers and association representatives added their statements, but the chairman did not allow them to voice specific complaints. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Heres why. Andrews said the decision was reached after consulting with the districts attorney and Steve Bailey, head of the Maine School Board Association. Weekly news from Oxford County and the Norway region, delivered every Thursday at 5 a.m. 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. Tentatively board action to hire the new superintendent will happen March 14, with March 28 tentatively set for the first day of work. 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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. 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.. 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. 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. The Oxford Hills School District. All rights reserved. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. 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. Crime and Public Safety | Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. The agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. The chief curriculum officer is the unanimous choice to lead while Monica Henson is on paid administrative leave. 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. 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 Dozens of people fill the Oxford Hills School District board room Tuesday night in Paris where some expressed serious concerns about Superintendent Monica Henson's leadership in her first six. 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. I am extremely angry, Rowe told WMTW News 8. Dr. Hensons full rebuttal statement can be foundhere. Empowered by their unions stance, Agnes Gray staff who witnessed the incident in September separately filed a report with DHHS on Jan. 20. Monica Henson is accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School last September. THE AGREEMENT ALSO BARS THE DISTRICT AND HENSON FROM TALKING ABOUT THIS PUBLIC. "It's a . Last week on Jan. 11, the OHEA held its regular monthly meeting, Jordan told directors. Jeni, I am going to have to stop you there, Andrews said. She has instituted a number of options I will be glad to share with the board in private session.. Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Hensons resignation was unanimously accepted Monday night after School Administrative District 17s directors gave her a unanimous no confidence vote. Log in to join the discussion. You dont file a grievance if someone is a bad leader, he said. There are concerns about COVID and how that's being handled. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. And as far as were aware, theres been no investigation on that, and thats very concerning to us. Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris interrupted Jordan. Already have a commenting profile? Enter your email and password to access comments. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Jewish Michigan lawmaker says threats are constant 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. They don't represent the majority of the community," Henson said. There have been zero grievances lodged against me with the Board for any contract violations. PARIS Parents, educators and community members descended on Oxford Hills School District directors meeting Tuesday night to voice serious concerns with 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. Oxford Hills School Board Meeting - Schoolslearning.info Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and "There's a lot of fear," Jordan said. 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. 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. Henson was placed on paid . WE HAD MULTIP ELEYEWITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. "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. 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. 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 cases of bullying, the Superintendent will monitor situations that are not being resolved at the school level and guide the process if necessary. For themselves, for their jobs and for retaliation against students in the schools. 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. Crime and Public Safety | Since you said it was a vote of no confidence and listed her name, we need to follow grievance procedure.. CT SHE HAD BEEN ON PAID LEAVE SINCE JANUARY OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE PULLED AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT BY THE ARMS BACK IN SEPTEMBER. The last speaker was Eric Bennett of Oxford, the father of the student at the center of the controversy. Letter from Superintendent - August 27, 2021 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. Henson also claimed that the school did not have a code of conduct in its student handbook. She said the union overwhelmingly passed a vote no confidence for Superintendent Monica Henson on Jan. 11. Andrews said the executive session would be on the next meetings agenda. 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. 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. Oxford Hills school board accepts superintendent's resignation - WABI-TV "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.
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