AMHERST — In the wake of allegations of transphobic actions by counselors at Amherst Regional Middle School, Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham is on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an ongoing Title IX investigation, according to a message from acting Superintendent Douglas Slaughter.

Slaughter notified families late Monday afternoon of the decision to put Cunningham on leave.

“Based on concerns raised in recent days, Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham has been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the current Title IX investigation,” Slaughter wrote. “Since this is a personnel matter, no further information can be shared until the investigation is complete and the district receives the independent investigator’s final report.”

A Title IX investigation was launched April 14 after a resident alleged her transgender child had been harmed by the actions of school employees and was potentially suicidal after intentionally being misgendered and misnamed by three employees who had been hired by Cunningham. Three staff members have been placed on leave amid the Title IX investigation.

Rallies have also been held in support of trans students and numerous members of the community spoke out last week at a public meeting, some calling for Cunningham to be fired and Superintendent Michael Morris, who is on a leave, to be investigated.

For her part, Cunningham, assistant superintendent for Diversity, Equity and Human Resources, told members of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and the Union 26 School Committee on May 16 that she is staying put, even in light of a report that a child was potentially suicidal after intentionally being misgendered and misnamed by three employees.

“I am not resigning,” Cunningham said. “And I am looking to the possibility of working with the community to make the necessary changes.”

“Today is yet another dark day in the Amherst community, and I hope we can work together to bring our community jointly back to the light,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham’s pushback on allegations leveled against middle school staff members came in the high school library room filled with people holding signs expressing support for the trans community and demanding her termination and the firing and investigation of Morris. Others waved rainbow and trans flags and some wore shirts expressing support for LGTBQ+ students.

Most were there to share their outrage that transphobia had allegedly been allowed to fester for a year or more, with complaints going unaddressed. One after another, people spoke about the harm reportedly happening to children.

Celia Maysles, the middle school nurse, confirmed the accuracy of the allegations, reported using mostly anonymous sources in an article last week in The Graphic, the high school newspaper.

“It’s bad,” Maysles said, adding that she felt the pain families and children were going through.

“All you have to do is call me and ask me what’s going on,” Maysles said. “There is a big problem. We know where it lies and we need you to help fix it,” she told the two school committees.

One parent provided written comments about the experience of the child at the center of the Title IX complaint filed on April 14 that remains under investigation. That complaint was also filed with the state’s Office of Civil Rights and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the town’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Human Rights departments.

Slaughter, the finance chief for the schools since January 2020, was named acting superintendent for the Amherst, Amherst-Pelham Regional and Pelham public schools last Thursday. Slaughter is in the role after Morris announced May 12 he was taking an indefinite medical leave, citing ongoing stress and alluding to mental health issues, with plans to return at some point.

The Amherst Pelham Education Association, the union representing teachers, paraeducators and clerical staff, took a vote of no confidence in Morris a day after he stepped aside and also called for Cunningham, the assistant superintendent for  Diversity, Equity and Human Resources, to resign her position.

At the tempestuous May 16 meeting, Lucia Lopez, a high school senior who worked on The Graphic article, said students wanted to investigate the transphobia claims and then write the piece because they cared about the issue. It’s an unusual circumstance revealed in town.

“This doesn’t happen here, and to any queer students who are listening, or any parents who are scared for their children, there is hope,” Lopez said. “This is not us, this not what we value, this is not the norm for our community.”

Slaughter’s message to families also offered hope for the final weeks of the school year.

“As the Districts’ Finance Director and an employee of ARPS for 17 years, I care deeply about our students, families and staff and am honored to serve in this role.  I look forward to working with everyone in the ARPS community to bring the 2022-2023 school year to a joyful conclusion that celebrates not just our students’ milestones, such as graduation, but also their countless daily successes and achievements.”

He referred anyone with concerns or additional information to Title IX Officer Marta Guevara at guevaram@arps.org or at 413-362-1871.

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