The official Facebook Page of the fifth-largest school district in Maine. "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. THE AGREEMENT STATES THAT THE DISTRICT WILL PAY HENSON 1- HUNDRED - 74 THOUSAND AND 500 DOLLARSN I EXCHANGE FOR THAT. Monica Henson had been on leave. They don't represent the majority of the community," Henson said. Andrews told Jordan that she would be allowed to finish her statement if she spoke in broad general strokes without specific references. 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. The full list of the OHEA's complaints can be found here. For more information, visit maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/reporting_abuse. 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. So there are a lot of valid things that staff are concerned about. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Enter your email and password to access comments. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. "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. Superintendent of Schools. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. She was placed on leave Jan. 26. 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. Plow truck drivers prepare for Maine's third snowstorm of the week, Maine Wardens searching for missing Greene man. 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. Weekly news from Oxford County and the Norway region, delivered every Thursday at 5 a.m. 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. Success. Parents and staff are concerned about Superintendent Monica Henson, who has been in the role since July 2021. 27 . On Wednesday, Feb. 2, an interview is set for Todd Bidlack, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Bloomfield Hills School. Dr. Monica Henson forcefully denied all 27 complaints levied against her at a district board meeting. The same limitations were applied to parents. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Nicole Carter. While her granddaughter is back in the classroom, she and other parents are frustrated. Calls may be made anonymously. 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. 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. 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. The situation occurred Sept. 7 and involved a food fight between students at lunch and an incident with a distressed student. Success. 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. Crime and Public Safety | Learn more. "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." Find Us . The agreement was presented to Henson and she resigned on Monday. Henson also claimed that the school did not have a code of conduct in its student handbook. HARTFORD - Waterbury schools Superintendent Verna Ruffin defended having school resource officers in city schools before state legislators . The alleged incident happened Sept. 9 at Agnes Grey Elementary School, where Henson was filling in as principal for the day. If you are concerned about a child being . 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. 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. Published: Apr. 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. 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. There are concerns about COVID and how thats being handled. Henson said at the time she used a limited restraint technique for a disruptive student. The Oxford Hills School Board voted on Monday evening to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson, officials say. She said educators have expressed concern about the superintendent taking and posting pictures of students and staff on her personal social media accounts without their consent. Jordan was followed by Dennis Boyd, grievance chairman for the union. That includes the resignation agreement where the district said it would pay Henson $174,500. OXFORD, Maine (AP) A school superintendent accused of improperly restraining a student at an elementary school last year has resigned. "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 CONFIDENCE | thats what the teachers union in MSAD 17 says about its superintendent #NEWSCENTERmaine pic.twitter.com/uzLRdRSuHS. Paula Pasche has worked in a variety of positions, including 32 years as a sports writer, since she joined The Oakland Press. The school board launched an investigation into the matter and put Henson on paid administrative leave. Educators at the school say the Oxford County Sheriffs Office was there Tuesday conducting interviews about the incident. We want our students and our staff safe. Oxford Hills Superintendent Monica Hensons resignation was unanimously accepted Monday night after School Administrative District 17s directors gave her a unanimous no confidence vote. DHHs officials also confirm that they were at the school Tuesday conducting their own interview. Boyd listed a series of situations that cannot be addressed by an official grievance. 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. AS YOU SAID.. 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. 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. Dr. Henson's full rebuttal statement can be found here. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. 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. Chairwoman Natalie Andrews of West Paris interrupted Jordan. One West Paris resident later told the Advertiser Democrat that Puiia fears for her job. There are concerns about COVID and how that's being handled. Oxford Hills School District will be a bully-free zone, effective immediately. Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. However, when Puiia attempted to address the board she was told by Andrews that specific details could not be shared publicly at that time. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. Trampled. 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. Oxford Hills School Board Chair Natalie Andrews told NEWS CENTER Maine the vote was unanimous. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Three parents addressed the board, two with children with disabilities who they said are not receiving proper support. Jordan also claimed that students fear the superintendent and are being treated unfairly. 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 THAT'S VERY CONCERNING TO US. 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. 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. JORDAN SAYS SHE HOPES TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE SURE STAFF AND. 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.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. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. 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. The full list of the OHEAs complaints can be foundhere. Jordan said that there were a number of teachers, administrators, and students who witnessed this alleged interaction. IN I. T. THE OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WILL PAY FORMER SUPERINTENDENT MONICA HENSON .. WE HAD MULTIP ELEYEWITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. 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 Log in to join the discussion. 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. 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. Superintendent Dr. Monica Henson has been accused of assaulting a student at Agnes Gray Elementary School. Or email them to: d.hertell@msad17.org . In cases of bullying, the Superintendent will monitor situations that are not being resolved at the school level and guide the process if necessary.