1 29 2020 Supt Principal Letter Follow Up NPS Parents Staff

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1 29 2020 Supt Principal Letter Follow Up NPS Parents Staff

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Mary Kay Gallagher

Superintendent

January 29, 2020

Dear Northville Public Schools Families,

As we collectively strive to support our students, staff and families in the wake of the deeply concerning
notification of a staff member’s arrest Monday morning, and in keeping with our commitment to provide more
specific information when authorized to do so, I am writing to inform you of the fact that Mr. Jason Dean, a
teacher at Northville High School since 2015, was arraigned today in Clarkston, Michigan on multiple charges of
Criminal Sexual Conduct, involving a female under the age of 13 at the time. We understand that there will be an
arraignment in Waterford, Michigan tomorrow. The alleged conduct occurred over a period of time in 2010, when
he was a teacher at a private school in Oakland County. We do not have any reason to believe, at this time, that
the allegations and charges involve any current or former Northville student.

As you are aware, upon notification of his arrest, Mr. Dean was immediately placed on administrative leave, and
directed not to be present on school property, at any school events, or have contact with any students at
Northville Public Schools, pending completion of the District’s review, and legal processes. Additionally, a number
of conditions were set forth by the Court during the arraignment, including an order of no contact with minors, a
monetary bond, and if released from custody, a GPS tether.

We will continue to work with law enforcement throughout the legal process. Our thoughts of concern and
support go out to the victim and her family. We also have empathy for the family of the individual faced with
these charges. As a school community, we need to continue to be mindful of how we communicate at this time,
especially through social media. Comments made without empathy can be deeply hurtful to all involved.

The safety and emotional well-being of our students, families and staff is of paramount concern to us as a school
district. Our high school social workers, counselors, teachers and administrators continue to be available to
support students in this difficult situation, along with our School Resource Officer. At the end of this letter, we
have included several “talking points” that reflect how we have responded to questions and concerns raised by our
students and/or families, along with a few links to references that you may find helpful in talking with children
about this difficult topic.

If there are any points of concern or anxiety that surface about perceived or alleged improper conduct, we stand
ready to discuss and review these concerns, in coordination with law enforcement. Our Title IX Coordinators may
be contacted by students and/or parents with any pertinent information or concern:

Mr. David Rodgers, Asst. Superintendent of Human Resources

[email protected], 248-344-3537
Ms. Beth Santer, Director of Special Services,
[email protected], 248-344-3530
Additionally, you may contact the Northville Township Police Department directly at 248-349-9400 if you have any
relevant information or concern.
We continue to seek opportunities for constructive dialogue with our students, staff, families, and community
about the importance of reporting any instance of potentially inappropriate, unsafe, or concerning conduct, even

405 W. Main Street Northville, Michigan 48167 248.344.3508 Fax: 248.344.3501

when the issues are difficult or hard to discuss. Consistent with our District goals, we seek to partner together to
help our young people feel safe, respected and cared for in our collective community.

Thank you, as always, for your understanding, as we work collectively with you, and our community partners to
meet the needs of our students, our staff, and our families.

Sincerely,

Mary Kay Gallagher Tony Koski

Superintendent Principal, Northville High School

*For your awareness, as questions and concerns from students surfaced, the following information was
shared:
• I understand that it is upsetting to hear that a teacher has been arrested, and that there may be
information and/or rumors and speculation circulating - some of which may be accurate while much
of it may not be.
• It is important to understand that rumors, conjecture, comments made can be deeply hurtful to all
involved- including the potential victim and family and the family of the individual charged with a
crime. This is not a laughing matter, or something to joke about.
• There is a process in place, in our legal system, as well as in our school system, for investigating
allegations and reviewing complaints, with laws protecting the rights of potential victims and the
rights of individuals against whom allegations have been made. There are laws related to privacy,
and due process, which impact the information that can be shared publicly. To make premature
judgements, circulate rumors, or joke about this serious matter can have long-lasting
consequences.
• The teacher has been placed on leave, which means he will not be at school, on school property or
any school event, and that he cannot have any contact with students or families - until the legal
processes have taken place.
• If you are feeling unusually worried, upset, sad or nervous, we likewise encourage you to speak to
your parent, counselor, social worker, SRO, and teacher, and/or a building administrator.
• We ask that you respect the privacy and rights of the individuals involved in this situation. The best
thing you can do may be to keep focused on learning and your activities, being respectful to one
another, and always, if you need support, or have any information that you are worried about, please
speak to your parent, counselor, social worker, and/or and administrator.
• The District strictly prohibits discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment under Title IX. If
you, or someone you know, believes that inappropriate conduct or interaction has occurred, even if
in the past, please report it to your parent, counselor, school resource officer, our social worker,
and/or your building principals.
Tip Sheet: Talking To Children And Teens from Stop it Now! (https://stopitnow.org/), which provides a
wealth of information and resources for families and communities, including information about talking
with children about healthy boundaries as well as what to do if they feel that their boundaries have been
violated.
Parents are also encouraged to join us at the upcoming 2020 Northville Parent Camp on Saturday,
February 29, 2020. A host of sessions are planned, including anxiety support, bullying/cyberbullying
prevention, mental health and well-being, and supporting social emotional learning at home, along with
the opportunity to review and access a variety of resources from across our community.