Federal report: New London school district failed to respond properly to sexual harassment complaints
Oct. 18—NEW LONDON — The school district failed to respond properly to reports of employee sexual harassment of students in the 2018-19 school year and later failed to ensure correct oversight and grievance procedures were in place, according to a new federal compliance report.
The report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights also noted the district may have failed to respond "equitably" to student-on-student sexual harassment complaints during the school years running from 2017 to 2020.
"Notably, the district abdicated its Title IX responsibilities when it did not independently investigate allegations of sexual harassment of students by two employees while the matters were being investigated by the police and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families," the department stated in a news release.
A set of dates cited in the report concerning employee sexual harassment coincides with criminal charges lodged against Corriche Gaskin, a former New London middle school behavioral specialist sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting two underage girls.
Board of Education President Elaine Maynard-Adams said the district "cleaned house" soon after the issues highlighted in the OCR report were brought to light.
"Not a single person who was guilty of failing our students and staff is still employed here," she said. "That includes anyone who should have reported the issues and didn't."
The OCR was created to ensure equal access to education via the enforcement of federal civil rights laws such as Title IX, which prohibits sexual discrimination.
The compliance review, initiated in March 2020, examined the district's handling of sexual harassment and sexual violence complaints from 2017 to 2020, as well as materials related to state agency investigations.
The OCR also raised other concerns regarding Title IX coordination and oversight for the 2020-21 school year; complaint record-keeping policies; and responses to student-involved sexual harassment.
To resolve the issues, the school district has agreed to review and revise its grievance policies to meet Title IX standards and submit updated procedures to OCR by Dec. 1.
The district will also conduct annual staff and administrative training focusing on sex discrimination, grievance procedures and support measures available to complainants.
A school climate survey will be administered to grades 6-12 students to assess the presence and effect of sexual harassment, proper reporting procedures and suggestions for improvement.
"New London Public Schools' agreement today addresses serious noncompliance with Title IX that had left district students vulnerable to unredressed — and sometimes serial — sexual harassment from employees as well as other students," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon said in a news release.
Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie, who was hired in 2018, said the district has already made strides in meeting OCR's compliance requirements.
"What happened in this district years ago (2015-2019) was disgusting and unacceptable," she said in an email statement. "We took swift and immediate action when these deplorable crimes came to light. These actions included working closely with law enforcement and the termination of those adults who so terribly failed our children. We have updated our policies and procedures, ensuring compliance and accountability in all areas, and every single employee receives training annually."
