[Karah]

TWO TEACHERS FROM ST. HELENS HIGH SCHOOL IN OREGON HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ABUSING STUDENTS. 

THE CHARGES COME AFTER AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ALLEGED ABUSE SPANNED SEVERAL YEARS, WITH DOCUMENTED REPORTS TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS AS FAR BACK AS 2019. 

THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE SPARKED PROTESTS OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL CAMPUS, AND CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF SCHOOL LEADERS.

DURING THE MOST RECENT SCHOOL BOARD HEARING –

STUDENTS AND STAFF TORE INTO THE BOARD.

“As a vulnerable 14 year old girl i didn’t find that it was weird he hugged me, kissed me on the head and told me that he loved me. 

“I was vulnerable and naive. And the school district had covered up many past previous sexual abuse from former staff members but this will be the last.”

“You guys and the teachers, they have normalized this behavior. You’re part of the grooming process.”

“I think that the thing that needs to happen to each and every single one of you needs to

resign.yes.

“if you got don’t step down when you do come up for election or however that works I’m going to be the loudest one out there talking about how you let this go down.”

46 YEAR OLD ERIC STEARNS – A TEACHER AT ST. HELENS HIGH –

AND 64 YEAR OLD MARK COLLINS –WHO RECENTLY RETIRED – HAVE BOTH BEEN CHARGED. 

AUTHORITIES SAY THE ABUSE INVOLVED NINE FEMALE STUDENTS.

LAST WEEK PRINCIPAL KATY WAGNER WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. 

THE NEXT DAY, SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN RYAN SCHOLL RESIGNED –

AND SUPERINTENDENT SCOT STOCKWELL WAS ALSO PLACED ON LEAVE.

POLICE SAY THEY DISCOVERED THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAD RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS OF ABUSE INVOLVING STEARNS AND COLLINS, BUT FAILED TO REPORT THEM TO THE AUTHORITIES AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

IN A LETTER TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, PRINCIPAL WAGNER ACKNOWLEDGED THE CONCERNS RAISED BUT DID NOT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE DISTRICT’S FAILURE TO ACT ON THE ABUSE REPORTS.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE DISTRICT HAS FACED ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE. IN 2019, A TEACHER PLEADED GUILTY TO FIVE COUNTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.HELENS HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOLLOWING COMMUNITY BACKLASH–

WITH THE DISTRICT SAYING STAFF ARE WORKING TO MAKE IT A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR WHEN STUDENTS RETURN.