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. Crime and Public Safety | She is a disabled child, and her rights have been trampled on. Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris interrupted Jordan. All this uproar from the Oxford Hills Education Association is puzzling, given that they have made no previous expression of concern to the School Board using the channels that are available to any staff, Henson wrote. Calls may be made anonymously. IN I. T. THE OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WILL PAY FORMER SUPERINTENDENT MONICA HENSON .. 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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. 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. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. SHE WENT ON TO FORCEFULLY DENY EVERY ONE OF THE 27 COMPLAINTS GIVEN LT AS NIGHT. 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. There are concerns about COVID and how that's being handled. 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. Oxford Hills Superintendent under fire at school board meeting Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and Login. 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. Oxford Hills Superintendent under fire at school board meeting, Monica Henson is accused of forcefully grabbing an elementary school student by both arms in September, Two women missing from Topsham area found safe in East Hancock, Weekend snowfall means business at Hermon Mountain Ski Area, Authorities searching for missing Greene man, Last round of snow moves in for today, sunshine returns on Sunday. The situation occurred Sept. 7 and involved a food fight between students at lunch and an incident with a distressed student. Henson was filling in for the principal for a day at the time of that incident, which resulted in investigations by the Oxford County Sheriffs Department and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, as well as an internal investigation by the school department. 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. Crime and Public Safety | 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. One child was recently injured while in school. Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several area cities 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. Dr. Monica Henson forcefully denied all 27 complaints levied against her at a district board 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. Heres why. One West Paris resident later told the Advertiser Democrat that Puiia fears for her job. Henson also claimed that the school did not have a code of conduct in its student handbook. 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. Crime and Public Safety | 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. 776 talking about this. We want our students and our staff safe. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. Already have a commenting profile? 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 . PARIS, Maine No confidence. 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. The Oxford Hills School District has agreed to pay their former superintendent Monica Henson $174,500.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. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. AND AS FAR AS WE'RE AWARE, THERE'S BEEN NO INVESTIGATION ON THAT. 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. Id like to take a moment to clarify. To date, no letters have been received during either the first or second quarter.. 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. 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. . The same limitations were applied to parents. 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. 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. I am beyond frustrated and so overwhelmed that they would even make that claim against her, said Grey teacher Rebekah Arntsen. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. 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 September, along with creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Create one. Interviews with the five candidates for superintendent of the Oxford Community Schools will be held this week at three special Board of Education meetings that are open to the public. For themselves, for their jobs and for retaliation against students in the schools. Parents are still concerned. Tensions erupt at SAD 17 board meeting over no-confidence vote of 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. IN RETURN FOR HER RESIATGNION AND PROMISE TO FILE NO CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT. That forum has not yet been scheduled. On Jan. 19, directors instructed district Chief Child Services Officer Jan Neureuther to report the incident to DHHS. Theres a lot of fear, Jordan said. She's not the only one who said they're having trouble with the district and Henson. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. The student fell while she pulled him into an office, and the superintended fell on top of the student and used a restraint technique. Credit: CBS 13/WGME. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. His motion was seconded and approved by the board. 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. 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. You will receive an email to complete the registration. It stated that Henson had put hands on two children while overseeing the school on Sept. 7. Oxford Hills Superintendent under fire at school board meeting - WABI-TV However, when Puiia attempted to address the board she was told by Andrews that specific details could not be shared publicly at that time. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about.". The Oxford Hills Teachers Union held its regular meeting on January 11 where a record number of people attended to participate in the vote. According to the agreement WMTW obtained, Henson agrees she will cooperate and make herself available should any legal claim be filed against the district. The principal of Agnes Grey Elementary at the time, Beth Clarke, resigned in December after having been placed on administrative leave in September, and wrote a public letter outlining grievances against Henson. Andrews told Jordan that she would be allowed to finish her statement if she spoke in broad general strokes without specific references. 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." Oxford Hills school board accepts superintendent's resignation - WMTW 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. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. The timeline calls for finalists interviews on Feb. 16 and 17 with a selection of a new superintendent set for March 4. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. On Thursday a meeting will be held to narrow the list of five to two or three finalists. "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." 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.. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. 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. 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. They said they are happy the school board is listening and will be holding an open forum to share more of their concerns. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Henson was placed on paid . 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. Monica Henson had been on leave for months before she resigned from Oxford Hills early last week. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. 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. Tumult for Agnes Gray continues as more speak out about September She said the union overwhelmingly passed a vote no confidence for Superintendent Monica Henson on Jan. 11. Oxford Hills School District -- Oxford Hills School District | Aude Superintendent of Schools. She was placed on administrative leave in January after being accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. Bickford had stepped into the role temporarily when Clarke took a medical leave during the fall. Henson did not address the September incident during Mondays meeting. The Oxford Hills School District. School Resource police officers from the district were at the Tuesday Board of Directors meeting. Months ago Oxford Superintendent Tim Throne announced his retirement that was due to happen in January. On Wednesday, Feb. 2, an interview is set for Todd Bidlack, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Bloomfield Hills School. Copyright 2022 WMTW. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. 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. Last week on Jan. 11, the OHEA held its regular monthly meeting, Jordan told directors. "And as far as we're aware, there's been no investigation on that, and that's very concerning to us. Here we are four months later and her rights are still being trampled on.. Oxford Hills School District 232 Main Street South Paris, ME 04281 Phone: 207-743-8972 Fax: (207) 743-2878 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. Login. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. And theres some concern about how chain of command is being portrayed in how it should be used, and then how it is being used. Oxford Hills School District MSAD #17 | Paris ME "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. 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. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. Don't have a commenting profile? 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. ?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. In addition to teachers and ed techs . 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. A school superintendent accused of improperly restraining a student at an elementary school last year has resigned. A phone number could not be located for Henson, and she didn't immediately respond to electronic messages. Maine school to pay former superintendent $174K, according to resignation agreement, CLARKE JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO TO EXPLAIN THE CONDITIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT. 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. 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. 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. 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT.