7/21/2010

July 20, 2010

Dear CMS Community,

Further to yesterday’s letter sharing the dismaying news of David Harris’s arrest in North Adams and our immediate response, I wanted to provide several quick updates today.

•    David yesterday sent me his resignation as our school head, making his immediate suspension moot.  I have already received a wide expression of interest and applications for our interim head position, which we will fill as quickly as possible for the year starting in September.

•    The Board, which is meeting by conference call tonight, will immediately set up a search committee for a new permanent head for the 2011 school year starting next July.

•    We have taken, and continue to attract, strong media interest, so you will see and hear Tracy Kukkonen and me on various news outlets describing our response to David’s arraignment yesterday in the North Berkshire court.

•    We continue to have no indication – either from our own immediate reviews or from the prosecuting authorities – that our own CMS community was in any way connected to David’s activities at his home in North Adams.  As a precaution, we have asked our attorneys (Ropes and Gray) to use an independent forensic IT firm to completely examine David’s computer, his internet access, and review the school’s IT infrastructure.

•    A number of parents have raised concerns about the safety of their children at our school.  We have always placed paramount concern on ensuring the safety of your children at our school.  We care for children from early education – age two – onwards.  We could not be the institution we are without the policies, risk assessments, and procedures we have in place to look after the children in our care.  To the absolute best of our knowledge and diligence, nothing has compromised this – and we are redoubling our immediate efforts, in light of David’s charges, such that nothing will.  Both my own boys, now eight and eleven, have attended CMS since age two, and I am proud of and confident in the care and education that they have received throughout.

We realize that this news about David Harris will be difficult for some of our children to understand, however you choose to explain it.  The sudden loss of someone perceived as good in our community due to charges of behavior we know is wrong – this is unsettling.  We would urge parents to be proactive in their listening in the coming days and weeks for signs that children need a bit of extra attention or reassurance.

We will continue to use PushPage to send updates as we have them.  We will send a reminder of the safety program we have in place to reassure any of you with concerns.  And we will continue to deal openly and honestly with this issue to address it fully and then return to our mission of delivering the highest level of education to our children.  

Our institution is larger than any of us, and it is certainly larger than a school head that we will now, with shock and disappointment, replace.  Your CMS program heads, teachers, and staff will continue to be the mentors, educators, counselors, and support group that have served and will serve your child.

Yours,
 
Webster O’Brien
President, Board of Trustees
617 230 8399

Anne Lawson, Treasurer
Deborah Fennick, Vice President
Madeleine Otani Oldman, Vice President
Thomas Price, Clerk
Susan Adams
Jill Becker
Michael Cragg, Emeritus
Bette Colombo
Carolyn d’Agincourt
Maria Guest
Eric McLaughlin
Jessica L.W. McLear
Megan Ostuni
John Shriver
Rachel van der Vo

7/19/2010

July 19, 2010

 

It is with shock, dismay, and sadness that we learned early this morning that our Head of School, David Harris, was arrested over the weekend and arraigned at 9:00 am today in North Adams, Massachusetts, on a number of charges concerning child pornography.  We do not have much detail, but we know he has been released on bail, and we are informed that additional charges will be brought.

 

While we can honestly state that we have had no reason to suspect this behavior, and we respect individuals’ privacy, these charges leave us no option but to immediately suspend David without pay until the Board of Trustees has enough information to make a final decision.  This reflects counsel from our lawyers (Ropes and Gray), who are assisting us in this matter.  We have reviewed the situation internally and are fully confident that these issues reside in David’s home in North Adams: they have not affected our own environment or community.

 

This is a deep disappointment and a great sadness, but it will in no way affect the continuing mission of our school or our commitment to educating our children in the time honored Montessori method, instilling them with core CMS values. Our program directors, faculty and staff will continue to deliver the education and experience that have brought us to and keep us at CMS.

 

Given the situation, we have begun the search for an interim head of school for the upcoming 2010-11 school year.  Until we make that appointment, the Executive Committee of the Board will work closely with the senior administration of the school to provide day-to-day oversight as needed.  As the board makes a final determination on David’s status, we will form a permanent head search committee if need be.  Our strategic plan for a growing, vibrant school of early education through ninth grade on a single, unified campus remains unchanged and unfazed.

 

I am sorry to bring you this morning’s news, which you might easily see in the media. Please explain to your children that though the world is not a perfect place, the current leadership of CMS is completely committed to their growth and education, and that CMS is a place of respect, love, peace, and learning.

 

Thank you for your understanding and patience at this time.  Contact Tracy Kukkonen with any questions, or contact me directly. We will be in touch with you again with more information.

 

Yours,

 

Webster O’Brien

President, Board of Trustees