Quincy Following a contentious school board meeting on Wednesday, the head of Quincy Public Schools sent a statement Friday morning raising doubts about the district’s resolve to address parents’ concerns regarding the behavior of two physical education instructors at Denman Elementary School.
Todd Pettit attempted to reassure people who spoke during the meeting that their remarks regarding years of behavior that included birthday spankings and taping of students’ lips were taken seriously. He claimed that after a DCFS investigation in November 2024 found that the behavior of instructors Jennifer Oitker and Kimberly Kirby was wrong but did not amount to abuse or crime, the administration made every effort to consult those directly involved.
According to Pettit’s statement, we hear people in our community who are upset, depressed, dissatisfied, and even furious about what happened and how QPS handled the matter. We hope that people would recognize—or even respect—that QPS has made an effort to follow the facts and evidence wherever they led, even though we cannot compel or force anyone to agree with the way it was handled. Any parent or student who has voiced a grievance and accepted an invitation to speak with us in person or over the phone has been welcome to apply for an interview.
After telling MRN that their testimony was no longer required, other Denman parents expressed their desire to speak up regarding their child’s interactions with the PE teachers. On July 12, a parent contacted QPS representatives and was informed:
Some important points that parents brought up at the most recent board meeting were not addressed in the statement, including whether the teachers would be attending Denman for the following school year and what kind of discipline, if any, was given to them.
We acknowledge that these incidents have made some people reevaluate whether they wish to keep their kids attending QPS, Pettit stated. I am aware that actions, not just words, are necessary to gain and keep trust. I sincerely hope that everyone will keep enrolling their kids in QPS. Every youngster in our community is loved and welcomed. Please know, nevertheless, that I respect and honor a decision to stop.
On Wednesday, Pettit first told Muddy River News that he would not change his July Facebook statement.
According to Pettit in November, it came after a string of MRN broadcasts on the state and local investigations and assertions by at least one Denman parent that the behavior continued.
He concluded this most recent attempt to explain the administration’s position on the matter by stating that QPS is not attempting to hide anything and urging everyone to honor the committed teachers who work throughout the district, some of whom have been caring for children for more than 20 years.
Parents also had concerns during Wednesday’s meeting regarding Kirby’s personal Facebook site, which featured images of their kids. However, Kirby had barred them from viewing her personal page.
This morning, Pettit reminded QPS employees of the district’s social media policy in a note:
“As a reminder, under no circumstances should staff post student photos on personal social media accounts in violation of QPS Board Policy 5:125,” Pettit wrote. Every school has a social media page that is officially administered by staff members. The best location to highlight the wonderful things that take place in our classrooms every day is on these pages. Please forward any content you would like to contribute to the principle of your building or the person in charge of social media at your school.
After Wednesday’s School Board meeting, Denman Elementary PE’s Facebook page was removed. Kirby operated the website, and some parents claim that after voicing their concerns about the teacher’s actions, they were barred from accessing it.
Additionally, some parents claim that Kirby had student photos on her personal site, which have since been taken off.
