GLOCESTER – Noting that concerns have been raised regarding the school district’s handing of sexual assault complaints, members of the Glocester Town Council voted unanimously Thursday night to request an independent investigation of the Foster Glocester Regional School District and School Department to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and policies.
The resolution, passed on Thursday, March 19, will be forwarded to the district. But since ultimately, the town has little authority over such school related matters under law, it will ultimately fall to members of the committee and district officials to act on it.
“The town of Glocester is committed to ensuring the safety and well being of all students in our schools,” notes the resolution, read on Thursday by Town Council President William Worthy. “The Foster Glocester Regional School Committee and School Department are required under state law, regulations and statutes, and Title 9, to properly investigate and address allegations of sexual assault and misconduct in school facilities.”
The request follows news last month that former high school gym teacher Alisha Crins has been charged with two counts of third degree sexual assault over her alleged relationship with a former student following an investigation by Rhode Island State Police.
The scandal, which first came to light in October, has brought out other complaints from parents and students, and allegations that the relationship, and other such conduct by teachers, has been well known by all in the school community, including administrators.
The council’s resolution notes concerns regarding the “adequacy, timeliness and compliance” of the district’s handling of such complaints, pointing to Rhode Island’s mandatory reporting law, which states that anyone with reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been victim of sexual abuse by a school employee must immediately report the issue to the principal, who must in turn report it to the Department of Children Youth and Families within 24 hours.
The request also cites both district policy and federal sexual discrimination laws that require the district to respond promptly and effectively, and investigate the matter.
Reached briefly on Friday, March 20, Supt. Renee Palazzo said she had not received the resolution or watched the meeting, and was away on a personal family matter.
In a letter to parents earlier this month, Palazzo stated that school leaders first became aware of the allegations in early October. It stated that as she was preparing for an internal review the matter, Palazzo was contacted by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office and told that the state police investigation would take precedence.
As a result, the district has not acted on calls by some for an internal investigation.
Now, the council has formally requested that the district initiate the matter with a third party investigator, who would look at the policies, procedures, handling of sexual assault complaints, and any pending allegations to ensure compliance. The resolution requests that the result of the investigation include factual findings and conclusions, and be made available to both the council and the public. It also asks that the district implement any needed changes arising from the report.
Worthy said the resolution will be forwarded to the district.
There’s a real need for Title 9 investigations into sex assault in schools. High school age students are an often overlooked age group. I speak and advocate on behalf of Survivors of sex abuse as young children. I myself am a Survivor of sex abuse as an 8 year old boy in 1961. My abuser was well known and with many young children as victims. In spite of this, he was allowed to continue abusing children for many years Claude Leboeuf Survivor Network Abused by Priests