Parents are still concerned. "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. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. 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. I recommend that we make Cathy the permanent principal. 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. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. A phone number could not be located for Henson, and she didn't immediately respond to electronic messages. Included on Tuesdays agenda was a request for the board to approve Hensons selection of Cathy Bickford as permanent principal of Agnes Gray. SHE WENT ON TO FORCEFULLY DENY EVERY ONE OF THE 27 COMPLAINTS GIVEN LT AS NIGHT. West Bloomfield man sentenced to 65-year prison term in Indiana 5, 2022 at 3:20 AM PDT. The Oxford Hills School District has agreed to pay their former superintendent Monica Henson $174,500. Clarke had noted in her letter that Henson forbid her from having contact with any of the students Henson had disciplined while at the school. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Hensons resignation was unanimously accepted Monday night after School Administrative District 17s directors gave her a unanimous no confidence vote. 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. That is it. 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 The biggest concern is that theres an accusation of physical contact and verbal intimidation of students, Jordan said. The Evergreen State takes the top spot again in the U.S. News Best States ranking on the strength of its tech sector and other industries. We want our students and our staff safe. Theres a lot of fear, Jordan said. School Resource police officers from the district were at the Tuesday Board of Directors meeting. Here we are four months later and her rights are still being trampled on.. Crime and Public Safety | The last speaker was Eric Bennett of Oxford, the father of the student at the center of the controversy. Henson did not address the September incident during Mondays meeting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. "And as far as we're aware, there's been no investigation on that, and that's very concerning to us. 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. by CBS 13 January 25, 2022. face shields may be an alternative for those students with documented medical or behavioral challenges who are unable to wear masks. 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. 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. Published: Apr. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and intimidation, 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 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. 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. Oxford Hills superintendent accused of restraining a child resigns After just six months on the job, Superintendent Monica Henson was placed on administrative leave Jan. 26, following. 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. The complaints were brought to the school board in a meeting Tuesday. Oxford Hills school board accepts superintendent's resignation Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson was put on administrative leave in January after allegations that she forcibly restrained an. Teachers union lists complaints against Monica Henson, six months after she started the job. Educators at the school say the Oxford County Sheriffs Office was there Tuesday conducting interviews about the incident. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. 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 agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. PARIS, Maine No confidence. The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. Oxford Hills school board accepts superintendent's resignation - WABI-TV Once youve said that we have to follow our grievance procedure. So far, no criminal charges have been filed. I implore this board to take everything that you are hearing this evening from everyone here extremely seriously, Matolcsy said. Jordan also claimed that students fear the superintendent and are being treated unfairly. There are concerns that staff just feel like when they try to express something, it just gets dismissed. 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 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. Henson provided a lengthy written statement early Wednesday to the Advertiser Democrat, noting that a no-confidence vote is a sign that an administrator is doing the work they were hired to do. While her granddaughter is back in the classroom, she and other parents are frustrated. 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. She is alleged to have attempted to pull the student into her office after an incident in the school cafeteria. 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. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat. The second incident was witnessed by Agnes Gray educator Karin Puiia who was on the public comment list for the evening. Create one. Or email them to: d.hertell@msad17.org . The copy of the resignation agreement says they will pay Henson in return for her resignation . Oxford Hills superintendent accused of creating culture of fear and They will also pay her $5,500 in legal fees. 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. Oxford Hills School District directors listen Monday night to Eric Bennett about his. Last week on Jan. 11, the OHEA held its regular monthly meeting, Jordan told directors. Months ago Oxford Superintendent Tim Throne announced his retirement that was due to happen in January. Monica Henson is accused of grabbing a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School last September. Oxford Hills School District -- Oxford Hills School District | Aude Calls may be made anonymously. 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. The chief curriculum officer is the unanimous choice to lead while Monica Henson is on paid administrative leave. The student fell while she pulled him into an office, and the superintended fell on top of the student and used a restraint technique. On Wednesday, Feb. 2, an interview is set for Todd Bidlack, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Bloomfield Hills School. And as far as were aware, theres been no investigation on that, and thats very concerning to us. School district offering $100 reward to catch cyberbullies Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. South Paris ME, 04281. "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. 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. We had multiple eyewitnesses to the incident, and again, to our knowledge, none of them have been asked or questioned about about that. The superintendent of Oxford Hills schools has resigned amid allegations that she assaulted a student last year. Letter from Superintendent - August 27, 2021 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. Heather Manchester, chief curriculum officer for the Oxford Hills School District in Paris, addresses the board of directors in July 2020. Oxford Hills School District MSAD #17 | Paris ME - Facebook Jordan was followed by Dennis Boyd, grievance chairman for the union. "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. 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. 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. 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 DR. MONICA HENSON IS ACCUSED OF CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR AND INTIMIDATN IO AMONG BOTH TEACHERS AND EVEN STUDENTS. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. That includes the resignation agreement where the district said it would pay Henson $174,500. THEY WILL ALSO PAY HER 5,500 DOLLARS IN HER LEGAL FEES. 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.. 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). Detroit firefighter charged with dealing drugs in several area cities 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. 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 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. 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, and that's very concerning to us. Henson said at the time she used a limited restraint technique for a disruptive student. Oxford Hills superintendent on paid leave following student assault 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. She was placed on leave Jan. 26. 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. Use the form below to reset your password. 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.