Hollymead Elementary Principal Joseph McCauley, who was placed on administrative leave after the school’s social emotional learning coach was one of two ACPS staffers arrested on charges of sexual crimes involving children, will not return to school in the fall, interim Albemarle County Public Schools Superintendent Chandra Hayes told parents on July 2.
Hayes stepped into the interim superintendent role after the Albemarle County School Board asked former superintendent Matthew Haas to resign during the June 11 school board meeting Soon after Haas’ resignation, McCauley was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
“I’m sorry that we dropped the ball as a division,” Hayes said to the handful of parents who attended a meeting at Hollymead Elementary on Thursday. “I’m sorry that your last experience in this space may not have felt yours or been inviting and positive, but what I’m here to do is hopefully help us move forward. I don’t take lightly the responsibility that the school board has placed upon me.”
Hayes repeatedly apologized to those few parents and teachers who were able to make it to the meeting. She also informed them that ACPS administration is working to make changes, asking them to fill out a survey that was sent to parents and teachers.
“I fully acknowledge that the last few weeks have been extremely difficult for this community and for the Albemarle community in general,” said Hayes. “I want to make sure what I do is right, and what we do as a district is right for you as well. We don’t have unlimited staff or unlimited resources, but there are things that we can do, and that’s listen and take from what you share with us and put into play.”
Hayes added that the social emotional learning coach (SEL), an unlicensed position, will be eliminated at Hollymead effective immediately, and will be phased out in the rest of ACPS schools.
“We felt it best that this school did not receive another SEL coach or mental health support specialist,” said Hayes, adding that they will hire a full-time counselor.
All mental health specialists will require a certification, said Hayes.
“If you don’t have a license, there’s plenty of things that you could do,” she said. “Counseling, mental health support is not that, and so they’re going to work to clearly identify what those roles can do, what they should be doing, so that when they’re in buildings, principal staff know exactly what to expect.”
ACPS is hoping to have an interim principal for Hollymead by June 13, Hayes said.
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