Teacher under investigation no longer works at Winchendon school: What we've learned
UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the Winchendon School Committee Chair Karen Kast-McBride, who confirmed on Thursday, Oct. 25, that the teacher being investigated is no longer employed by the school district. This story was updated again to change the word fired to "let go."
A newly hired teacher at Murdock Middle School was out of the classroom six days into this school year, but school officials have declined to comment on the matter.
According to the parent of a sixth-grade student, her daughter was subject to inappropriate touching three times by Robert Pack, her math teacher.
On Sept. 8, the same day as the third incident, the student reported it to the principal and dean of students. The dean contacted the child’s mother and advised her that it would be reported to the Department of Children and Families and investigated. The Gardner News does not name victims of potential sexual assaults and has decided not to name the parent in order to avoid involuntarily identifying the child. However, the reporter and her editor have confirmed the parent and the child’s identities.
Pack has not returned to the classroom since Sept. 8, and a long-term substitute has been teaching the class, according to the mother.
On Wednesday, Oct. 25, after not returning phone calls before this article was initially published, Karen Kast-McBride, the Winchendon School Committee chair, said the town's school committee is not involved with any personal investigations or issues, but she can confirm that Pack was "let go."
School started on Aug. 30. It was closed on Friday, Sept. 1, and Monday, Sept. 4, for Labor Day weekend.
The mother requested the school's report of the incident, which took several weeks for her to receive. The report indicates that as many as five students were subject to Pack’s inappropriate touching, and seven students were interviewed for the school's investigation.
What types of investigations are happening at Murdock Middle School
Julia Silvestri of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) confirmed that her agency is investigating the incident. Silvestri also said Murdock Middle School is doing its own Title IX investigation. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, in all federally funded education programs, including K-12 schools.
Silverstri said DCF will complete its investigation by Friday, Oct. 27.
Director of Communications Lindsay Corcoran at the Worcester District Attorney's Office said the DA does not have any information on this case at this time.
The Gardner News contacted Craig Murdock, the Murdock Middle School principal, Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, interim superintendent of schools, and Heidi Bevacqua, dean of students, as well as the Winchendon Police Department, regarding this matter ahead of publishing the article on Oct. 24. None have returned calls seeking confirmation and/or comment.
Attempts to reach Pack were unsuccessful.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Murdock Middle School students say teacher inappropriately touched them
