An experienced Oregon school administrator has been named temporary superintendent of the struggling St. Helens School District for at least the remainder of this academic year.
Karen Fischer Gray, the district’s pick, is 67 years old and has served as a superintendent in the Parkrose, Lincoln County, and Coos Bay school systems. In the spring of 2023, she retired from her last permanent job in Lincoln County.
Several calls and texts asking how much she will be paid were not immediately answered by a school district spokesman. At least until the end of the current academic year, Gray will continue to play the part.
Gray takes over for former acting superintendent Steve Webb, who led St. Helens for roughly two months before departing, claiming to have finished a corrective action plan that would help the school district win back community trust following months of turmoil and scandal.
Following reports of several investigations into claims of student sexual abuse and other staff misbehavior, including senior administrators’ reluctance to notify law enforcement and child welfare authorities of complaints, the Columbia County system collapsed in December of last year.
Superintendent Scot Stockwell was one of ten staff members who were put on leave while the investigation was conducted. According to the district, Stockwell will continue to be on paid leave while criminal and other administrative investigations are conducted.
Although it was supposed to be finished by now, the results of an independent, internal investigation into the St. Helens School District’s culture, required reporting requirements, and staff ethics have not yet been made public. To address the delay, the school district has planned a media meeting for this Friday.
Julia Silverman writes for The Oregonian/OregonLive about K–12 education. You can contact her at [email protected].