Quincy In an effort to start the healing process following the issues at Denman Elementary School, five Quincy Public School District executives have signed a statement.
Following the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) investigations into birthday spankings and the taping of students’ mouths, Quincy School Superintendent Todd Pettit and Denman PE teachers Kim Kirby and Jennifer Oitker were suspended on August 1.
According to the letter, we are aware that the recent occurrences at Denman have damaged community trust. We are dedicated to regaining your trust, beginning with our pledge to communicate on matters of significance to our QPS community in a timely and transparent manner. We’ll be better. In addition to reviewing the reporting and follow-up processes for complaints, we will endeavor to improve safety, communication, and trust.
At this time, we are unable to provide any further information regarding the suspensions. As the school year begins, our principal at Denman Elementary (Amber Whicker) will inform her families of the specifics of how the instructional coverage will be handled.
The letter’s main author was Kim Dinkheller, director of teaching and learning. In an interim capacity, she and Ryan Whicker, director of business operations, are giving the district’s main leadership. Director of Personnel Lisa Otten, Director of Elementary Education Erica Maynard, and Director of Special Education Eryn Beswick are among the other administrators whose names appear on the letter.
To guarantee a successful start to the school year, I will keep collaborating closely with the administrative team in the central office, school principals, and school employees. According to Dinkheller, Ryan will be in charge of company operations and function as a liaison between divisions including fiscal services, maintenance, and transportation.
Every day, parents entrust their children to educators, and we are dedicated to upholding that trust in our words, deeds, and choices.
The full letter is included in the attachment below.
