'Creepy things happening': St. Helens students react to growing list of staff on leave
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – St. Helens students continue to speak out as more staff are removed from schools amid an ongoing sex abuse scandal.
As of Friday, the St. Helens School District has announced 10 staff members are on paid administrative leave after news first broke that a current and former teacher had been arrested on allegations of sex abuse in mid-November.
High school seniors have told KOIN 6 News they are glad the staff members were removed because it makes them feel safer until the investigations are completed. Still, they added that the ongoing stress caused by this saga has impacted their classrooms.
“It's shocking,” St. Helens High School senior Misha Bainbridge said. “I mean, everyone kind of knew that there were some creepy things happening, I think. But I don't think anyone knew it was to this level."
It’s been more than a month since former teacher Mark Collins and current teacher Eric Stearns were first arrested on sex abuse charges on Nov. 13. The arrests were followed by state-led investigations into several teachers and administrative officials, including Principal Katy Wagner who is accused of failing to report these incidents for several years.
So far, the list of those placed on leave includes Stearns, Wagner, Superintendent Scot Stockwell, and an unnamed middle school teacher who is being investigated by police for reported offensive contact with a student.
“It's very disruptive to the classroom environment," Bainbridge said. “And I can't take my test from a few weeks ago because there's no teacher to even give me the test. The substitute doesn't know where the tests are.”
Two high school campus monitors are also under investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services for alleged sexual abuse. However, the remaining people under investigation remain unknown to the public.
On Monday, St. Helens police said there were no updates in their criminal investigations and no additional charges. The district has not released names, but a spokesperson said the additional staff were placed on leave based on leave due to internal and ODHS reports.
Bainbridge said she believes her teacher may be among those investigated. She told KOIN 6 News she began searching for answers after her teacher did not turn up for more than a week.
"Eventually we talked to the assistant principal, and he told us that, yes, he is gone until further notice, but he can't make an announcement for some reason,” she said.
Two school-based listening sessions have been scheduled for families in the St. Helens School District:
- St. Helens High School
Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- St. Helens Middle School
Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.