St. Helens School Board selects interim superintendent amid teacher sex abuse allegations

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- In the wake of sex abuse allegations against several employees over the last couple of weeks, the St. Helens School Board selected an interim superintendent on Monday night.

Dr. Steve Webb was unanimously selected to lead the district for the next 90 days.

TIMELINE: When St. Helens’ teacher sex abuse scandal began, latest investigations, what’s next

"The board acknowledged the magnitude of the current crisis and the challenges facing the district following recent allegations of employee misconduct and concerns about the lack of transparency from some district and school leaders," the school district said in a press release.

Webb previously served as superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools from 2008 to 2021. In 2021, Webb and the Vancouver School Board mutually agreed to part ways months before he was set to retire from the district.

He is also a senior consultant for the American Association of School Administrators.

“We know that it will take concerted effort and significant time to address the trust that has been broken between our community and school district,” said Trinity Monahan, acting chairperson for the board. “We are pleased that Dr. Webb, a veteran superintendent and a highly regarded educational leader, has joined us to help our district and community come together, heal and move forward.”

A total of seven staff members with the St. Helens School District are under investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services and St. Helens police in an ongoing sex abuse scandal involving students as well as allegations of school administrators turning a blind eye to these crimes.

Since the first of these allegations went public in mid-November, the St. Helens community — including parents, students and school staff — have rallied against what they claim to be the district’s failure to protect its vulnerable students.

St. Helens police first began its two-month investigation into the school’s sex abuse allegations in September.

“After receiving reports of the alleged sexual abuse, St. Helens detectives immediately conducted interviews and obtained a subpoena for records related to the allegations,” police said. “Former student victims were identified, and additional potential victims were also identified.”

Following the investigation, Eric Stearns was charged with seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse, and Mark Collins was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse.

Both men were lodged in the Columbia County Jail on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The St. Helens School District announced in a Facebook post Friday, Nov. 15, that the high school’s principal Katy Wagner and the district’s superintendent Scot Stockwell had been placed on administrative leave. The state department also said Superintendent Stockwell is under investigation for neglecting to report child safety concerns.

Officials also announced that school board chair Ryan Scholl had resigned from his position.

The following Thursday, Nov. 21, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announced that Wagner was under investigation for allegedly failing to report safety concerns to law enforcement.

The ODHS announced Friday morning that two more St. Helens High School employees were also being investigated on allegations of sex abuse, though they have not yet been named in a criminal investigation by St. Helens police. Officials also announced Friday that a St. Helens Middle School teacher was under investigation for "offensive physical contact."

The district says Webb will "focus on stabilizing district and school leadership, listening to stakeholders, and recommending actions that are needed to address the district’s current crisis and long-term needs."

“Our shared goal is to set St. Helens School District on a path toward a successful future, ensuring that the appropriate policies, procedures, systems and personnel are in place for a safe, respectful, and professionally ethical learning environment. Every student should feel safe, secure, and supported in our schools. We must do significant work to begin rebuilding community relationships and trust,” said Webb.

Christina Phillips, the parent coordinator for "Empowered Saint Helens," -- a group aimed at holding the district accountable -- attended the board meeting and said that she plans to hold Webb accountable.

"I'll be there every month, every meeting. And I'm going to keep after you," she said. "I'm gathering questions that you have for the school district. I am gathering contact info for parents and community members that want to help and find an area that they can help with."

Webb plans to release a tentative plan of action for the district in the coming days.

The next district board meeting is set for December 11.