Kirkwood Alumni and Parents Demand Answers re: Faculty Sexual Abuse of Students
Kirkwood Alumni and Parents Demand Answers re: Faculty Sexual Abuse of Students
The Issue
For fifty years, children in the Kirkwood School District have not been protected from systemic sexual abuse. Verified by an independent investigation, at least five decades of sexual abuse of children by faculty or staff have occurred, involving at least 30 known perpetrators. Three head principals were in charge of overseeing the high school, which contained the most extensively reported abuse, during the period of 1979 to the present.
The undersigned alumni, parents of current students, and community members with conscience who care about children, demand that former principals Franklin McCallie and David Holley and current principal Michael Havener make known:
- what they knew of this systemic abuse,
- what they knew of the perpetrators,
- what actions they did or did not take, and
- what they did for the survivors of these serious violations.
Engaging in the oversight of faculty and staff as well as ensuring the safety of the students should have been their priority responsibilities. We ask that they step forward and explain what occurred and what was done. This seems to be a small request, particularly given the extent revealed to date of the abuses.
Additionally, we demand that Dr. Michael Havener resign as head principal of Kirkwood High School. Given his alleged history of sexual harassment and sexual abuse of students and staff members, as well as alleged failure to report and lack of leadership in this area, he must be removed from Kirkwood schools immediately, to assure the safety of the whole community.
We collectively expect answers from these three principals, a formal apology on behalf of their administrations, full information that they have that is pertinent to seeking justice and making serious changes, and new leadership of the high school, so that this systemic sexual abuse ends and never happens again.
Transparency is vital if we would guarantee the safety of current and future students. We demand that any perpetrators still employed by the district be removed, and that all who acted to protect perpetrators are held accountable.
No more! Never again!
Students and others may also use instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/briancarlsonartist/
The Issue
For fifty years, children in the Kirkwood School District have not been protected from systemic sexual abuse. Verified by an independent investigation, at least five decades of sexual abuse of children by faculty or staff have occurred, involving at least 30 known perpetrators. Three head principals were in charge of overseeing the high school, which contained the most extensively reported abuse, during the period of 1979 to the present.
The undersigned alumni, parents of current students, and community members with conscience who care about children, demand that former principals Franklin McCallie and David Holley and current principal Michael Havener make known:
- what they knew of this systemic abuse,
- what they knew of the perpetrators,
- what actions they did or did not take, and
- what they did for the survivors of these serious violations.
Engaging in the oversight of faculty and staff as well as ensuring the safety of the students should have been their priority responsibilities. We ask that they step forward and explain what occurred and what was done. This seems to be a small request, particularly given the extent revealed to date of the abuses.
Additionally, we demand that Dr. Michael Havener resign as head principal of Kirkwood High School. Given his alleged history of sexual harassment and sexual abuse of students and staff members, as well as alleged failure to report and lack of leadership in this area, he must be removed from Kirkwood schools immediately, to assure the safety of the whole community.
We collectively expect answers from these three principals, a formal apology on behalf of their administrations, full information that they have that is pertinent to seeking justice and making serious changes, and new leadership of the high school, so that this systemic sexual abuse ends and never happens again.
Transparency is vital if we would guarantee the safety of current and future students. We demand that any perpetrators still employed by the district be removed, and that all who acted to protect perpetrators are held accountable.
No more! Never again!
Students and others may also use instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/briancarlsonartist/
Petition Closed
Share this petition
Supporter Voices
Petition created on August 17, 2021