An Oregon school principal has resigned and a 13-year-old student has been arrested after a mysterious incident of sexual abuse in an on-campus bathroom.
Principal George Scott resigned last Monday from his position at Jewell School in Clatsop County.
His resignation came after Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office took a 13-year-old student into custody on December 5 after complaints of sexual abuse.
While the details remain scarce, parents say the incident stemmed from a ‘predator’ being in the school bathroom.
Deputies took the teen to a youth detention facility and the case has been referred to the juvenile department and the District Attorney’s office.
The school district had to cancel classes in the school, which serves pre-Kindergarten through to the 12th grade, for two days while authorities investigated.
At at school board meeting last Monday, the board acknowledged Scott’s resignation and said they would be hiring their own investigator to probe the sex abuse claims.
The board told KPTV that they intend to have the outside investigator look back several years into the school district.
His resignation came after Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office took a 13-year-old student of Jewell School into custody on December 5 after complaints of sexual abuse
Principal George Scott resigned last Monday from his position at Jewell School in Clatsop County
Parents at a meeting on December 9 had said there had been multiple complaints made against the student who was arrested in the past
Parents at a meeting on December 9 had said there had been multiple complaints made against the student who was arrested.
At the board meeting last week, one parent said: ‘We need to know how allegations are documented, investigated, and reported.
‘We need to know how risks, safety plans, et cetera are communicated to administration, to staff, and then to parents and families.
‘It appears the failure to take seriously the reports and warnings about this student perpetrator rests largely on an ex-administrator.’
The superintendent of the district has also announced new policies regarding bathroom visit policies and mandatory hall passes.
Changes in policy are hoped to keep younger and older students more separated throughout the school day.
In a statement, the district’s interim superintendent Cory Pederson said: ‘The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority.
‘While we cannot disclose specific details regarding this incident due to privacy concerns, please be assured that we are addressing the matter in line with our district’s policies and procedures to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students.
