Fourteen victims of sexual abuse at the hands of former teacher Michael Kelly agree to settle a civil lawsuit against the New Hanover County Board of Education.
Judge Gorham ruled that the school system’s failure to disclose that Kelly had previously been investigated for claims of sexual misconduct effectively stalled the clock from starting on the statute of limitations until 2019.
Attorneys for the victims are opposed to any further delay, saying that the wait for justice has already been far too long for these young men. To underscore that point, they shared a video compilation with several of the former students who say Kelly abused them, and the mothers of two victims.
For more than 20 years, former Roland-Grise Middle School Band Director Peter Frank formed intimate and sexual relationships with some of his students.
A judge will decide whether testimony from a key witness will be heard during trial of the civil lawsuit against the New Hanover County Board of Education, former administrators, and former teacher Mike Kelly.
The district officially started fingerprinting new hires as part of its background check process. This comes at a time when the district is being sued for failing to stop teachers from sexually abusing students, despite warning signs and complaints from parents about concerning behavior by some teachers.
New Hanover County School leaders are responding to criticism about a survey they conducted polling students on their experience with sexual harassment. The district wanted to get a better grasp on how often students were experiencing harassment in the wake of a teacher sex scandal.
Victims and community members are still waiting to find out if school administrators will be held criminally liable for failing to report suspected sexual abuse of their students.
“We believe this trial will take between four and six weeks. It is a big deal and it is very expensive and it’s really not good for anyone,” said Plaintiff's Attorney Joel Rhine.
The New Hanover County School Board has filed a lawsuit against several of its insurance carriers in a dispute over how much coverage the companies will provide to the board in the case involving former teacher Michael Kelly.
When the civil case was filed by victims of Mike Kelly, attorneys say Liberty Mutual took “a very hard position that there would be only $4 million of insurance coverage made available.” School Board attorney believes school system purchased significantly more coverage than that.
The amended complaint details two disturbing events where a former teacher of the year is accused of raping a student after drugging him so he could not defend himself.
WECT is attempting to verify information presented in a series of anonymous letters, alleging that a now-high-ranking official at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) helped cover up a teacher sex scandal in the school system, and that another deputy engaged in improper activity with minors himself.
A bill has been introduced in Raleigh that would regulate teacher background checks at the state level, and require teaching applicants to undergo fingerprint-level background checks before being placed in a classroom.
The N.C. Department of Justice says it is “working towards a resolution” in its investigation into New Hanover County Schools’ handling of sex abuse allegations.
WECT Investigates took a look at decades of admitted and alleged sexual abuse by New Hanover County Schools employees, and how administrators handled allegations and complaints.
The New Hanover County School board sought the release of those documents in September 2019, to use to defend themselves in a civil lawsuit filed against them by victims of Michael Kelly.
WECT has obtained search warrants that appear to detail the crimes against a seventh victim in the Peter Frank case. The alleged incidents happened prior to those that first reported against other students, and appear to be more serious.
Peter Frank the former band director at Roland Grise Middle School, was indicted by a New Hanover County grand jury on 17 child sex crime charges, according to Attorney General Josh Stein’s Office.
After a turbulent start to 2020, the New Hanover County Board of Education last week hired Dr. Del Burns to take over the reins as interim superintendent, with the hope the longtime educator can help right the ship.
The school board has responded to an effort to remove Dr. Rick Holliday’s name from the Laney High School football stadium weeks after thousands signed a petition in favor of the change.
Since the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office launched a tip line dedicated to investigating former Roland Grise band teacher Peter Frank, just twelve calls have been made.
The Board of Education is asking New Hanover County commissioners for $358,420 as it looks to move past the Peter Frank sex scandal and resignation of Dr. Tim Markley.
In a brief impromptu discussion at the end of the State Board of Education’s (SBOE) special meeting Friday morning, Board Chair Eric Davis addressed the “situation” in New Hanover County Schools (NHCS), saying the board is offering its support.
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Thousands of people have signed a petition requesting Rick Holliday’s name be removed from the Laney High School Football Stadium. The former Laney High School principal abruptly retired from his job with New Hanover County Schools last summer in the midst of a teacher sex abuse scandal.
Parents have been notified about a second Roland Grise Middle School staff member under investigation for allegations of inappropriate behavior toward students.
The New Hanover County Board of Education announced Friday that it has unanimously accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley. His resignation is effective immediately.
While the New Hanover County Schools district and its Board of Education continue to deal with the fallout of a third employee being arrested on sex crime charges in the past two years, many parents have turned their frustration toward the district’s administration, including Superintendent Dr. Tim
After a week of turmoil within the New Hanover County School district following the arrest of band instructor Peter Frank, the district hosted a support night for parents of Roland Grise Middle and Hoggard High schools.
The mother of a student allegedly assaulted by former Laney High band director Richard Priode is imploring school district officials to act after another band teacher was charged for assaulting his students.
Parents packed the New Hanover County School Board meeting Tuesday, demanding for superintendent Tim Markley to be removed. Many of those parents and even a 12-year-old girl spoke out about the school sex scandal.
The family of Nicholas Oates has filed a claim against New Hanover County, apparently stemming from Oates death late last year while in the custody of the New Hanover County Jail.
The New Hanover County Schools United for Students group hosted a support meeting for parents and students of the New Hanover County School district Monday.
New Hanover County commissioners voted Monday on a motion to extend their support and the help of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office to the school board.
As the investigation continues into Peter Frank, the Roland Grise Middle School teacher charged with 12 counts of indecent liberties with a child or student, a new state law aimed at reducing sexual abuse of children comes into sharp focus for one of the legislators behind it.
The law firm handling an independent civil investigation into the Michael Kelly sex abuse case has announced an investigation into allegations of sex crimes by Roland Grise Middle School band teacher Peter Frank.
Search warrants from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office reveal Roland Grise band teacher Peter Frank was counseled by district officials for having “inappropriate relationships” with students during his tenure at the middle school.
Peter Frank, a band teacher at Roland Grise Middle School, has been suspended without pay from his role with New Hanover County Schools, after being charged with a dozen felony sex crimes.
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