Haverhill School Controversy Letters
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- Letter to Scott Wood, Vice-President, Haverhill School Committee, (printed with some redaction, otherwise verbatim)Dear Mr. Wood,I am the guardian of the student in the newspaper.Firstly, the story in the paper I found to be absolutely untrue. The student in reference has not been found guilty of any crime, sexual or otherwise. The father in the story who I don't know was given information that is totally incorrect. The child in question didn't make any sexual comments. He ran by a girl that he liked with a friend and said with his pointer and thumb "I wanna ****** you", lines directly from South Park.The child has an eye witness. The gym teacher was in his office and the girl whose father is filing all these complaints was not even near the situation.She was across the gym with two other girls and a boy named Alex. The child’s friends is the only eye witness, and even without ********* there stated where the comment came from.There was never any sexual intent or COMMENT made. I called the principal on the Thursday of the incident and told her that ******** comments were "*****.” I don't know who or where the sexual comments came from but shame on the person who's mouth they were uttered by.The words used aren't on TV, or movies they are very explicit sex that my 11 year old doesn't even have a clue about. I understand you have ties to the parent filing, I believe he was given misappropriate information. ******** and I have met with the principal and the superintendent. ******** is not going to let this or anything else lower his self esteem he will tell you exactly what and who he said the words too (sic) and further more I will pull up the episode and bring it with me to court.Shame on all of you for not finding out all the information, listening to words from people that weren't involved, and the second suspension came because while ******* and his friend were talking the girl came over to them and said " shut up". ******* said your (sic) not supposed to be talking to me you filed charges against me so go away.His suspension was given for talking to the girl not making sexual comments. Furthermore, I requested he be moved from the homeroom before he went back to school and told by the principal that it wasn't necessary. I knew it was.Letter to Kerry Fitzgerald, President of the Haverhill School Committee, (printed with some redaction, otherwise verbatim)Ms. Fitzgerald,I am writing to you, as the President of the Haverhill School Committee, to file a formal Grievance against the Superintendent’s decision yesterday, 3/31/08, allowing ************** back into the Silver Hill School. I was informed by Principal Gilman today that the Superintendent attended this meeting with Asst. Superintendent Stephen O’Brien.As you are aware *************** was involved in making a very explicit sexual comment towards my daughter and two other classmates on the 20th of March. He was suspended and subsequently returned back to the classroom on 3/25/08.I learned the next day, Wednesday, 3/26/08; from my daughter he had made additional harassing comments to the girls while in art class. I was in Principal Gilman’s office on Thursday, 3/27/08, when she called the Superintendent to inform him of the additional incident and her intention to suspend him for 5 days.Furthermore, she indicated to the Superintendent over the telephone with me present that she felt this boy was not safe to be in the school and recommended he not return to the building; suggesting outside tutoring for him.I and another parent have taken legal action against this boy. The Haverhill Police have sought the complaint and he is due to appear in court on April 15th to be heard on the charges.He is currently scheduled to return to the school this Thursday, 4/3/08.I am requesting that this decision be thoroughly reviewed by the school committee. If at that time, the school is satisfied with the Superintendent’s decision to leave ************* in the Silver Hill Elementary school, and deem that he is safe, I want to know specifically what will be done to ensure that my daughter or any anyone’s child for that matter is not exposed to further harm by this boy.I requesting that I receive this decision from the school committee in writing and attached; I want in writing the safety plan that will be implemented at the school that insures the girls’ safety from further retaliation.Please inform me of the guidelines to this procedure and when a decision should made based on my grievance.Sincerely,
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