10 St. Helens district staff members placed on leave amid sexual misconduct investigations
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — In the wake of accusations of sexual abuse against two teachers at St. Helens High School, a total of 10 district staff members have now been placed on paid administrative leave due to allegations of sexual misconduct or failure to report it.
The school district revealed the number of employees on leave during a press conference Friday, but would not give any additional details.
“We’re gonna need to follow legal guidance on how we answer that question,” said J. Marie, a new communications consultant for the district, according to The Columbia County Spotlight, a Carpenter Media Group publication and KOIN 6 media partner.
The St. Helens School District has been the subject of parent protests ever since the teachers, Eric Stearns and Mark Collins, were arrested on allegations of sexual abuse last month. The principal, Katy Wagner, was also arrested and accused of not reporting the alleged abuse to authorities.
Prior to the arrest of Stearns and Collins on Nov. 13, two employees were also placed on paid administrative leave. Then on Nov. 15, Wagner and Superintendent Scot Stockwell were additionally placed on leave.
Since then, five staff members have been placed on leave — two as a result of reports to the Oregon Department of Human Services or the child abuse hotline and three due to internal reports.
Additionally, the former Board Chair Ryan Scholl resigned weeks following the initial sex abuse accusations. The St. Helens School District is now trying to fill that empty board seat for Position 3.
Meanwhile, ODHS has opened six investigations within the St. Helens School District, including the additional abuse allegations and allegations that mandatory reporters failed in their duty.
The administration at St. Helens High School has been given mandatory reporting training and the staff at both the middle and elementary school will also be receiving the training.
St. Helens parents are continuing to ask for transparency from the school board and expressing their frustrations.
Aventurine Doarn is among those making their voices heard.
"I have no faith in our board at this point. They tell us one thing and do another thing," Doarn said. "I've been talking to a lot of parents, and they don't want to be associated with the current board. If the board steps down, there's a lot of us who are ready to fill it."
Doarn is also calling for the names of the school staff who are being investigated and why they are being investigated.
"We feel that, as parents in the community with children in the schools, we deserve that information. It's vital information to protect our children," Doarn said.
St. Helens police said their investigations have also led them to more potential victims in the area. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
The Columbia County Spotlight contributed to this report.