Monomoy Middle School Staffer Fired After Allegations Of Inappropriate Communications With Students

CHATHAM – A Monomoy Regional Middle School instructional assistant and coach was fired Friday after officials discovered alleged inappropriate communications between the individual and students.

A joint statement from the district, Harwich and Chatham police departments issued to Monomoy families Saturday morning said school officials were contacted Tuesday by an individual who discovered prior communications between the employee and a student. Within an hour the employee, who has not been identified, was placed on leave and removed from his duties pending an investigation, according to the statement.

Harwich and Chatham police were notified and the employee was no longer employed by the district as of Friday, according to the statement.

The statement contained no information about the nature of the communications between the staff member and students. Police investigations in both towns remain ongoing, it reads.

Police and the district are limited in the information that can be released “in order to protect student privacy and the integrity of the investigation,” the statement reads. The information was being shared to assure the school community of the steps being taken after officials learned of the situation, according to the statement.

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority, and we take those concerns very seriously,” according to the statement.

The statement urges students who need support to talk to their counselor or a trusted adult. 

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation or concerns about communications their child has received can contact Chatham police at 508-945-1213 or the Harwich police at 508-430-7541.

Further information will be shared when appropriate, according to the statement.