Christopher Peak Photo
New Amistad Principal Simon Obas.
Amistad High School’s principal has placed two staffers on administrative leave pending an investigation based on complaints from students about inappropriate behavior, and two other staffers for allegedly failing to report the complaints.
The principal, Simon Obas, informed his employees of the action at an all-staff meeting Wednesday.
Obas told the staffers that two female students had reported that two staff members, one of whom works in a supervisory position, had acted inappropriately toward them. The complaints apparently included inappropriate conversations. Obas said the students told two other staff members about the incidents, but those staff members did not in turn report their stories to school officials, as required by school policy.
Obas — who took the reins of the Dixwell Avenue charter school this academic year with a commitment to enforcing high standards of staff conduct toward students — learned about the complaints through a parent.
He promptly suspended the two accused staffers on Tuesday, and then, on Wednesday, the two other staffers who allegedly failed to report the incidents.
Obas asked those present at Wednesday’s all-staff meeting not to share this information with other people.
Achievement First later released a statement to the Independent quoting Obas as saying: “In my role as principal of AF Amistad High, it is my job to prioritize the safety of our students above all else, and we are committed to ensuring that we hold those entrusted with educating our students to the highest possible standard. We are in the process of conducting a thorough investigation to determine appropriate next steps.”
Parents should really reconsider keeping their children in this school which has so many issues with administration, teachers and the whole school philosophy.
After all of the revelations in the past year, people really should seek alternatives to this charter school.
This principal did the right thing but something is rotten in the state of Achievement First that stinks throughout the city!
You have two staffers who are accused of "inappropriate behavior," and two staffers who had knowledge of the inappropriate conduct and failed to report it.
Parents should be livid.
The other question to be asked is why all the secrecy? Is Achievement First still trying to muzzle, bribe and coerce staff members into silence who questions issues about some of the cult-like, demeaning and offensive "disciplinary" practices known to be a part of Achievement First pedagogy?
There needs to be a State investigation of these charter schools!