A teacher at Centaurus High School has resigned, saying he feels Boulder Valley School District officials were not properly handling sexual harassment complaints among students.
Michael Ross, a science teacher who had been with the Lafayette school for nine years, sent an email Wednesday to an unknown number of parents and students announcing his decision. The Daily Camera was able to obtain a copy of the email, which was confirmed by school district officials.
“I write to you with a heavy heart to inform you that I am resigning my position as a teacher at Centaurus High School, effective immediately,” Ross wrote. “This semester, I have observed such profound and immoral wrongs visited upon our students and a complete failure of our leadership to even acknowledge, let alone deal with, the harm and continuing danger, that I cannot continue to associate myself with this school or district. Not only has our leadership chosen not to inform the school community of this danger, but has actively suppressed any information relating to it. “
Ross said he was aware of at least 11 allegations of sexual misconduct made by students against other students at Centaurus and other BVSD schools, though he did not say how he became aware of the incidents.
But while Ross also wrote that he felt “the scope of this problem is very likely orders of magnitude greater,” he also expressed his concern with what he felt was the school district’s problem handling “the falsely accused.”
“I understand how complex, difficult, and fraught with danger this problem is and the administration’s reluctance to address it for fear of being perceived as blaming victims or actually suppressing reports by real victims,” Ross wrote. “However, I believe that a failure to act undermines the plights of real victims that need the support of the limited resources available. And, the impact on the falsely accused can be absolutely devastating: I have witnessed harassment, bullying, social and actual ostracization, the denial of the right to education, and actual gang-style physical beatings that are direct results of false allegations.
“I cannot stand idly by while students’ and their families’ lives are upended and left in ruins by a danger that still roams the halls and classrooms of our school.”
Ross could not be reached for further comment Thursday.
Boulder Valley officials said Ross also sent a second email to staff in which he said the district “supported false reports of sexual harassment/violence” and “acted in a discriminatory manner toward one of our students accused of misconduct.”
In a letter released to the community on Thursday, Centaurus Principal Daniel Ryan said the accusations in the email to staff were “patently false.”
Ryan in an email to parents and students also said Ross was spreading “selective and uninformed information regarding confidential student matters.”
“Whenever we receive a report of misconduct or a notice of charges from law enforcement, we take the allegations extremely seriously,” Ryan wrote. “We investigate, take action, and support our students in accordance with district policy and procedures and, when appropriate, cooperate with law enforcement.
“While we are unable to speak about the specific situations raised in the former employee’s messages because of legal limitations and our strong belief in due process, we can share that we have responded to the concerns raised in the former employee email.”
Ryan also wrote that he found Ross’s decision to leave just before the end of the school year “extremely troubling.”
The school said a long-term substitute has been brought in to replace Ross for the remainder of the school year.
Boulder Valley recently paid $1.26 million to settle a federal sexual harassment lawsuit brought by two former Fairview High students.
Ross referenced the Fairview case in his letter, saying “any rational person would suspect a connection between the recent Title IX presentations (required by the Fairview lawsuit settlement) being made district wide and the recent explosion in allegations.”
“Like you, I was horrified by accounts of the crimes committed by Fairview High students,” Ross wrote. “I welcomed the Title IX investigation, the resulting settlement, and the creation of the Title IX coordinator position, and I truly do hope for success in addressing our society’s ongoing battle against sexual harassment and assault.
“I have three children in our district, two at Centaurus, and I believe that the ‘Me too’ movement broadly and the work of the Title IX office here have and will continue to shape our society in positive ways and make the world a better and safer place.”
In an interview with the Camera on Thursday, Ryan said his concern about Ross’s letter was not only its “broad statements” and emphasis on the impact of false accusations. “My concern coming out of this is students would be hesitant to come to us and talk to us and seek out the support and help that they need,” Ryan said in an interview with the Camera on Thursday.
“We pride ourselves in taking care of our kids and treating them fairly. In spite of this email we will continue to do that this year and every year going forward,” Ryan said. “We have made a very strong effort to make sure students know we are here to listen to them, to believe them and to support them.”
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