I have been appalled and disheartened at the lack of professionalism and basic compassion displayed by some members of the Waterville Senior High School staff in recent weeks as former principal Don Reiter was investigated on a charge of inappropriate behavior toward a student.

While few of us in the community know all the facts of this case, and all are entitled to our personal beliefs, it is nothing short of tragic when people who are professionally entrusted with the well-being of students stand publicly to applaud a person accused of betraying that trust. If staff members felt strongly that supporting Reiter was important, it would have been far more appropriate to have told him privately.

Others lined a school hallway chanting Reiter’s name as if he were a hero, and not someone accused of betraying a student’s trust. Both the ovations and chants were deplorable acts for the youth in this community to have witnessed.

Indeed, regardless of whether he is innocent or guilty of the accusations against him, if Reiter cared about students as much as he is purported to care, he would have put a stop to this behavior on the part of his staff immediately. He should have realized that the behavior was sending all young people the message that it’s dangerous for them to do what we’ve taught them: Tell a trusted adult about matters such as these.

I am further dismayed by the lack of respect shown to our esteemed elected school board members, who clearly gave thorough and painful consideration to the facts presented to them before rendering a most difficult decision. We are fortunate to have a highly respectable team of bright, professional and caring board members in this community, none of whom deserves the kind of disrespect leveled at them in recent weeks.

This has been a difficult and challenging chapter in our community’s history, but it could have been far less troubling had some high school staff members acted as leaders and publicly stated that, while we each may hold our separate beliefs, it is imperative that we await proper review of the facts by police agencies and the school board, and that we pray that justice will prevail in the end.

Having worked with victims for more than 30 years, I can only imagine the damage that has been done by the actions of those involved.

Every educator who took part in this appalling behavior should be ashamed of themselves.

Julia Vigue is a resident of Waterville.

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