343 SIGNATURES AND COUNTING...
Sign Your Name Below
WAYS TO HELPDecember 16, 2020
Dear Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Regents,
With regard to the articles published in the Newport Daily News on December 4 and the Boston Globe on December 8—which both detailed a legal Complaint concerning Jane Doe, Portsmouth Abbey School (“PAS”), and its senior administrators—we write to you with grave sadness and deep concern for the School’s current students, our fellow alumni, and the future of the School. The claims outlined in these articles are extremely disturbing. If substantiated, they necessitate drastic and expeditious action.
We approach you with first-hand knowledge of deep and broad consensus from PAS alumni concerning the need for answers and, if necessary, changes for our Community. Alarmed at how the aforementioned issue was allegedly handled, we seek immediate answers to the following questions:
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Following the departure of Michael Bowen Smith, did PAS grant the State Attorney General in Providence full access to information and witnesses under its control? If not, why? What is the School’s reporting policy when it has evidence of abuse by a faculty member of a student?
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Was PAS contacted at any point by a prospective subsequent employer for Mr. Smith? If so, what recommendation did the School provide, and which individuals were involved in making that recommendation?
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Who at PAS (administration, faculty, staff, Board members, etc.) was alerted to, aware of, and/or involved with the decision-making process taken in response to Ms. Doe’s alleged request for aid from the School?
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What information, if any, was passed between PAS, PAS’ outside consultant (Kathleen McChesney), and the law firm to which Ms. Doe was referred (Lewis, Roca, Rotheberger, Christie) in an attempt to prevent her from filing a civil suit against the School?
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Between the first instance of these allegations and today, was any parent threatened with their child’s dismissal if they did not cease and desist all conversation regarding these events? If so, by whom was the threat made?
Because we do not yet have a complete accounting of the parties involved in these processes, we request the creation of a select sub-committee of alumni, Board members, staff, and outside counsel. This committee will conduct a full and thorough investigation of the allegations contained in the article we reference above and publish a transparent account of the events in question, including a breakdown of existing protocol (if any) for dealing with such misconduct and/or abuse. It will evaluate the policies that PAS claims to have put in place to prevent similar, future abuse, and will also make its own policy and personnel recommendations aimed at preventing such malfeasance in the future (paying special attention to education of the student body with regard to identifying and preventing sexual abuse on campus). The undersigned would greatly appreciate the opportunity to make specific recommendations regarding committee membership.
Until said committee’s inquiry is finished, we demand that Headmaster Daniel McDonough, Associate Headmaster John Perreira, and Board of Regents Chair Christopher Behnke ‘81 be placed on leave (or take leaves of absence). To ensure the necessary accountability and impartiality in this important process, they must be removed from any and all decision-making positions at PAS until our questions are addressed and the review is complete, as they were presumably principal parties to the events in question. The resolution of the committee’s investigation will initiate a process of evaluating their future with the institution, and, in consultation with the Board, the committee will make a recommendation regarding the continued involvement of Messrs. McDonough, Perreira, and Behnke in the life of PAS.
As our alma mater marches towards her second century of excellence, we note that we are but caretakers of this beloved community. It is in that spirit that we eagerly await the opportunity to work with you to ensure a safe learning and living environment for the children in PAS’ care. Until such time, we will be unable, in good conscience, to make donations, solicit donations, attend School events, or encourage others to consider sending their own children to the School. We look forward to your prompt reply, which you can address to concernedabbeyalums@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Patrick A. Mouligné - Former BoR; P ‘01, ‘98
ADM James Hogg (Ret) P ‘01, ‘97
Kimberley Sharps
Anthony and Ellen Pagliaro P ‘10
Pamela Harries P ‘10, ‘13
Joney H. Swift - Faculty Member ‘08-‘09, ‘10-‘20
Jill Clendenen - Faculty Member ‘11-‘15
John Tepper Marlin ‘58
John F. R. Melia ‘70
Tim Klemmer ‘71
Chris Long ‘73
Shea Farrell ‘76
Christopher Harty ‘76
Anonymous Alumnus ‘76
Timothy Seeley ‘77 - Faculty Member ‘84-’87, ‘11-’15
Todd Glosson ‘80, P ‘13
Marty McKee ‘87
Manuel Urrutia ‘90
Edward Cahill ‘90
Amanda Crane Londoño ‘95
Angus Davis ‘96
Charles Mannix ‘96
Brennan Koch ‘97
Ashley Griswold ‘97
Margaret Herr ‘97
Ashley Hart ‘98
Brenna Bennett ‘98
Janine Graebe ‘98
Tamara Lal ‘98
Chris Shonting ‘98
Tara Winston ‘98
Cristina Craig ‘98
Tristan Mouligne ‘98
Kathleen Grandin ‘98
Joo Young Lee ‘98
Christian Mack ‘99
Beck Bennett ‘00
Ashlin Bernier-Green ‘00
Patrick O’Neill ‘00
Alexandra Mouligne ‘00
Kathleen Bailey ‘00
Katharine Holmes ‘00
John Jay Mouligne ‘01
Eliza Pfeffer ‘01
Adolf Haffenraffer ‘01
Elizabeth LaBrecque ‘01
Shelley Ryan ‘01
Peter Fleming ‘01
Katie Cuddihy ‘01
Paul Yoon ‘01
A. Block ‘01
Kiernan Rok ‘01
Ethan Murray ‘01
Emily Uon ‘01
Tiffany Behnke ‘01
Justin Hart ‘02
Jonathan Doolan ‘02
Andres Cordoba ‘02
Rebecca Rapoport ‘02
Caroline Gaston ‘02
Lisa Walker ‘02
Maura Winston ‘02
Brendan Rok ‘03
Andrew Martland ‘03
Elizabeth Chwalk ‘03
Alexander Forbes ‘03
Adam Robertson ‘03
Shannon Ruggieri ‘03
Mark Dwyer ‘03
Katie Young Miller ‘03
Mark Mouded ‘03
Maia Crawford ‘03
Mathieu Santos ‘03
K. Collin Murphy ‘03
Kate Lyons ‘04
Julia McGlynn Reinalda ‘04
Sean Galvin ‘04
Clare Rok ‘04
Stephen Miller ‘04
Eliza Greenman ‘04
Alexandra Sparks Rautiola ‘04
Genevieve Block Apaza ‘04
Paul Willis ‘05
Anonymous Alumna ‘05
Emma Kirby Greenman Culver ‘05
Jessica Gabeler ‘05
Patrick Tobin ‘05
Lahna Son-Cundy ‘05
Caitlin Nicholson ‘05
Nicole Landry Wright ‘05
Susan Ferrara Calderon ‘05
Matthew Post ‘05
Elizabeth Bergman ‘05
Jennifer Beaulieu ‘05
Gabriella Aballi Miranda ‘05
Farrell Ougheltree ‘05
Isabel Burnham ‘06
Alexandra Leonard ‘06
Abigail DiPalma Isom ‘06
John Feitelberg ‘06
Graham Sparks ‘06
Patrick Leary Bresnahan ‘06
Laura Curren Adams ‘06
Mia Choate ‘06
Vivian Auer ‘06
Lindsay Wilson Igyarto ‘06
Julia Driscoll ‘06
Emily Kerwin ‘07
Maximilian W. Klietmann ‘07
Anna Buckley Kendrick ‘07
Jeffrey J. Popham ‘07
Kaitlyn E. Soares ‘07
Ross White ‘07
Alexandra Curran ‘07
Kaitlin O’Hearn ‘07
Kyle Boston ‘07
Mike Reilly ‘07
Elizabeth McCarthy Calder ‘07
Michelle LeMeur ‘07
Bryna Hautau ‘07
Caroline Greene ‘07
Zach Bazarsky ‘07
Cedric Craig ‘07
Priscilla Benkhart ‘07
Caitie Silvia ‘07
Caroline Regan Hessberg ‘07
Jennifer Gerlach Provo ‘07
Jean-Francois Valcour ‘07
Caroline Johnson ‘07
Joanna Lanz Holder ‘07
Alex Cusack ‘07
Brittany Hunt ‘08
Micaela Adams ‘08
Ricardo Kriete ‘08
Kathleen Behan Roussinos ‘08
Margaret Ferrara ‘08
Johanna Davenport ‘08
Christina Horton ‘08
Katherine Pereira ‘08
Daniel Bernard ‘08
Claire McCarthy ‘08
Tad Walgreen ‘08
Brianne Rok ‘08
Emily Pederson ‘08
Colleen Kennedy ‘08
Kaitlyn Dempsey ‘08
Madison Nunes ‘08
Jonathan Samorajski ‘08
William Kemp ‘08
Susan Skakel ‘09
Kayla Bowers ‘09
Libby Sacco ‘09
Benjamin Lynn ‘09
Janaina Colomba ‘09
Kara O’Hearn ‘09
Alaina Andreozzi ‘09
Lilli Donahue ‘09
Peter Tasca ‘09
Horace Allen ‘09
Olivia Simone ‘09
Ben Theriault ‘09
Courtney Rutledge ‘09
Mia Murphy ‘09
Sarah Taddei ‘09
Kerry Klemmer ‘09
Brendan Hammatt ‘09
Felipe Ernesto Vicini ‘09
Alexander Gallo ‘09
Elena McCarthy ‘09
Jenny Irving ‘09
Stephen J. Cunningham ‘09
Peter Wallace ‘09
Francis A. M. Pagliaro ‘10
Pierce P. MacGuire ‘10
Makonnen M. Jackman ‘10
Stephanie R. Proulx ‘10
Grace P. Hobbes ‘10
Chidozie Onyiuke ‘10
Henry B. Harries ‘10
Lauren Steinbach ‘10
Isabella Schad ‘10
Jay Wagner ‘10
Cindy Ruiz ‘10
Carlos Tavares ‘10
Nicholas Caron ‘10
Caroline D’Amario ‘10
Sarah Savoie ‘10
Kathleen Timmons ‘10
Niamh Lehane ‘10
Caroline Kelley ‘10
Sebastian Clarkin ‘10
Leo Makowski ‘10
Andrew Sgarro ‘11
Samantha Theriault ‘11
James Tasca ‘11
Charlotte Anderson ‘11
Taisa Hutchison ‘11
Kate Skakel ‘11
Gabrielle Rossi ‘11
Tiernan Barry ‘11
Tara Tischio ‘11
Kaitlin Patton ‘11
Catherine Shanahan ‘11
Katie Sgarro ‘11
Victoria Sgarro ‘11
Liam O’Farrell ‘11
Bromley Moore ‘11
Daniela Vollmer ‘11
Sean Buckley ‘12
Britt Conklin ‘12
Cheyenne Fafard ‘12
C. MacLean ‘12
Broghan Zwack ‘12
Fergus O’Farrell ‘12
Michael Camara ‘12
Ronald Cochran ‘12
Sarah Auer ‘12
Gabrielle Fontes ‘12
Stephanie Waterman ‘12
Sidharth Sharma ‘12
Anonymous Alumnus ‘13
Rhoads MacGuire ‘13
Isabel Keogh ‘13
Francesca Kielb ‘13
Julia M. Noble ‘13
Zachary Tipton ‘13
Nicholas DeLieto ‘13
Mossiah Kouassi-Brou ‘13
Zoeline Keating ‘13
Charlie Ramsden ‘13
Catherine Glosson ‘13
Dorothy Dickmann ‘13
Laura Baudet ‘13
Rachael Powers ‘13
Joseph Yates ‘13
J. Hadley Matthews ‘13
Julia Thompson ‘13
Emily Kelley ‘13
Ifunanya Onyiuke ‘14
Lily Mercer-Paiva ‘14
Malik Bernadeau ‘14
Anne Magauran ‘14
Brigid Shea ‘14
Julia Boog ‘14
Aidan O’Farrell ‘14
William Locke ‘14
Connor Rodericks ‘14
Rachel Sousa ‘14
Laura Posada ‘14
Susana Marino-Johnson ‘14
Peter Vergara ‘14
Emily Magnifico ‘14
Caroline Kirscht ‘15
Elizabeth I. Kielb ‘15
Sophia Diodati ‘15
Kristine McNulty ‘15
Grace Jannotta ‘15
Bailey Raposa-Archibald ‘15
Madison Fairbanks ‘15
Margaret Ingraham ‘15
Joshua Okoro ‘15
Maggie Stark ‘15
Isabella Welch ‘15
Aidan Cain ‘15
Tristan Howlett ‘15
Lauren Cotta ‘15
Kourtney Patton ‘15
Alexandra Peace Morrison ‘15
Patrick Wilks ‘15
Stefan Navarro ‘15
Gabriel Blaine ‘15
Sean Crandall ‘15
Juan Pablo Chouza ‘15
Sally Hoerr ‘15
Dean Bessey ‘15
Courtni Wade ‘15
Lauren Tuite ‘15
Douglas Lebo ‘15
Fenton Billings ‘15
Helen Nelson ‘15
Katie Chen ‘16
Elisha Wilson ‘16
Chloe Canning ‘16
Claire Doire ‘16
Kevin Ellicks ‘16
Oliver Jantz ‘16
Sara E. Bertuccio ‘16
Brandt Matthews ‘16
Anjili Patel ‘16
Carly Johnston ‘16
Katrina Nueva ‘16
Jennifer Yates ‘16
Connolly O’Brien ‘16
Jimmy Murphy ‘16
Rory O’Connor ‘16
Paulina Power ‘16
Maya Wilson ‘17
Helen Wittenborn ‘17
Remy Chester ‘17
Finnley Arends ‘17
Callan O’Neill ‘17
David Ingraham ‘17
Anny Angel ‘17
Maida Hoefel ‘17
Mikaela Nueva ‘17
Catherine Kelley ‘17
Grace Benzal ‘17
Thomas Driscoll ‘17
Nicholas Nadalin ‘17
Amanda Saliba ‘17
Jordan Davis ‘17
Kathleen Longson ‘17
Katelyn Heuer ‘17
Meagan Kelly ‘17
Matias Wawro ‘17
Naythan Delgado ‘17
Anonymous Alumna ‘18
Theodore Anderson ‘18
Lauryn Harper ‘18
Joe Breen ‘18
Jane Jannotta ‘18
Ryan Donovan ‘18
Austin Sisk ‘18
Elizabeth Mullaly ‘18
Foster Davis ‘18
Taylor Yates ‘18
Maya Eid ‘18
Abbey Luth ‘18
Spencer Kelleher ‘18
Maria Maldonado ‘18
Matthew McKenna ‘18
Emily Byrne ‘18
Nicki Kirscht ‘19
Sarah Costa ‘19
Rory O’Neill ‘19
Mattie Wadson ‘20
Camille Holley ‘20
Namugenze Mpemba ‘20
Paynton Black ‘20
Jamarya Jackson ‘20
Anonymous Student ‘23
Anonymous Students ‘24 (2)