After Many Years of Child Abuse, Potomac School Needs More Oversight

As concerned members of the Potomac School community, we are disturbed by the extensive sexual abuse of Potomac students spanning five decades (beginning with Christopher Kloman and continuing until the termination of a teacher in January, 2014). Specifically, we are troubled by the recent independent investigation’s reports that though Mr. Kloman was fired in 1994 for presumed ongoing sexual misconduct, he was permitted to teach at other schools.  Given the decades of Potomac School’s documented abuse and the culture of silence and secrecy that has repeatedly superseded the safety and well-being of children, it is crucial that greater oversight be instituted going forward.

We propose that an independent oversight committee be created, and we ask that both internal and external members of the school’s community be invited to participate.  This committee would examine the concerns mentioned above and oversee the implementation of actions outlined in the investigative report, assess the efficacy of any action taken, and initiate steps to improve existing programs.  In addition, we recommend further action be taken to address victims’ allegations that some of the current Potomac staff knew about the sexual abuse and did nothing. Finally, this committee would explore how to liaise with any current or former students who feel that their complaints about any and all abuse are not being heard by the Potomac administration.

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Just before the 2014 Fourth of July holiday weekend, when attention on the school was conspicuously minimal, Potomac School released a summary of its independent investigation, conducted by the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, into the decades-long history of sexual abuse by several members of the faculty, including Christopher Kloman.  According to the investigation, more than 31 girls were abused by Mr. Kloman, a teacher and administrator, at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, from the 1960’s-1990’s.  Mr. Kloman is now serving a 43-year sentence for his crimes.  While one chapter has been closed, Potomac School’s past and future responsibility for the misconduct remains an issue to the school’s extended community.  In addition, the summary of the investigation’s findings that was distributed by the school omitted critical information that the community at large has a right to know.

The Potomac School...

Admits that Mr. Kloman and at least four other teachers/staff abused young girls spanning five decades and six school administrations.

Acknowledges that students knew that there was something wrong with Kloman — from girls to whom he gave special attention, and from boys that he over-disciplined as he competed for the same girls.

States that the school knew about the abuse and only required counseling for Mr. Kloman.

DOES NOT openly acknowledge that one teacher was dismissed in January 2014 for sexual misconduct with a student.  This man was not reported to state authorities, as required by law.

DOES NOT adequately report that for decades, several girls summoned the courage and told parents, teachers, school psychologists, nurses, and administrators at the school what was happening to them.  Some reported their abuse to more than one staff member.

DOES NOT report that Kloman repeatedly raped a young girl over a two-year period in the 1990's, and that after she had complained of parental abuse, she was assigned by the school to be counseled by Kloman. 

DOES NOT report that the aforementioned girl confided in and requested help from at least one administrator, a teacher, a school psychologist and a school nurse — some of whom are currently employed by Potomac.  The summary of the investigation provided by Potomac glosses over this victim’s allegations by stating that the reports "cannot be corroborated."

Admits for the first time publicly that Mr. Kloman was terminated in 1994. 

DOES NOT report the timing of the termination, which coincided with aforementioned victim’s departure from the school to, as reported by the victim, seek an abortion.

DOES NOT report that rather than call Virginia state authorities, as mandated by law, Potomac gave Kloman a retirement party, dedicated that year’s yearbook to him, created a commemorative plaque, provided him with a letter of recommendation from at least one board member, and then knowingly sent him off to work at another school.

Suggests that the inaction of the school over three decades was a sign of the times (1960’s-1990’s), but that the school today is different — despite continuing to employ staff who were there during those decades and had knowledge of the abuse.

Has a responsibility to transparently investigate the staff who were reported by victims to have known about the abuse but did not report it as mandated, and then to take appropriate action.