We learned this week that a jury has awarded a record civil penalty of $102.5 million in a lawsuit brought against our district by two victims of sexual abuse. Former Dartmouth Middle School music teacher Samuel Neipp was arrested in 2017 on numerous charges of sexually abusing the students between 2009 and 2014. He is serving a 56-year sentence in state prison.
Our sympathies and concern go out to the young women who were abused by Mr. Neipp. His actions were despicable. He violated the trust of these students, his colleagues, and our community.
Sadly, the actions of this one individual will have severe consequences for our school district. Mr. Neipp was held partially liable for some of the damages, but our district portion of the jury award will be $72.625 million. Our insurance companies will pay the bulk of the award, but our school district budget may have to absorb a $17.625 million loss. We are reviewing our legal and operational options on how to move forward given this decision.
As the Union School District’s superintendent, I want our community to know that the safety of our students will always be our top priority. We continually examine our procedures, training, and reporting practices to ensure that all students, staff and parents know how to report and follow through on allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and unprofessional behavior. One example of support for our students is through the annual Be Seen and Heard assemblies that were presented to students in March. The age-appropriate Be Seen and Heard curriculum and assemblies are designed to give students the tools to recognize the dangers of child sexual abuse, the differences between a safe and unsafe touch and a safe and unsafe secret, the importance of voice, and identifying trusted adults.
Sexual abuse and harassment, grooming behaviors and violations of professional boundaries will not be tolerated in Union School District. If you see something, hear something or even sense that something isn’t right, we encourage you to say something to a teacher or administrator right away. We take it seriously and follow procedures to investigate, report and appropriately address any questionable behavior. If you have questions or need additional information about how to talk to your child about sexual harassment you can contact me directly.
We appreciate your understanding, patience, and support as we navigate this situation. I thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support each individual child and uphold a safe school environment for our students in Union School District.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carrie Andrews
Superintendent