Oregon’s governor says he will step in if the St. Helens is not quick to address the sexual abuse scandal

SF. HELENS Hours. (KPTV) – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek sent a letter Friday to the city of St. Helens, vowing to step in and take control if the school district doesn’t act quickly sexual abuse scandal that has shaken the small community in recent weeks.

“My job as governor and superintendent of public education is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students who enter our schools, every day. I take this matter very seriously and offer my sincere condolences for the current situation your community is facing, including the broken trust by the lack of transparency and immediate response to the allegations from district leadership,” Kotek wrote. “My team worked with the Oregon Department of Education, educational partners and our congressional delegation to support the district. I understand that an interim superintendent will be appointed quickly. If that expectation is not met within 14 days, I am prepared to step up the state’s engagement with the district and make a recommendation for an interim superintendent.”

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Police detectives from St. Helens is investigating a middle school teacher for alleged “criminal activity” involving students, they announced Thursday.

A teacher from the high school of St. Helens and a former teacher were arrested and face charges of sexual abuse involving students.

In addition, a professor from St. Helens Middle School is under investigation for criminal behavior involving students, St. Louis police said. Helens in a statement Thursday.

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The students of St. Helens returned to classes on Tuesday in the wake of a teacher sexual abuse scandal.

Two other high school employees are also being investigated by the state Department of Human Services for the allegations, and ODHS also announced that Superintendent Scot Stockwell and Principal St. Helens Katy Wagner are both being investigated for allegedly failing to report potential child abuse.

The President of the School Board of St. Helens, Ryan Scholl, resigned last week.