University School of Nashville students want resignations over sexual harassment response
www.tennessean.com
Around 150 students walked out of class at the University School of Nashville on Wednesday morning to call for the resignation of two school leaders over their handling of sexual harassment allegations against a now-former teacher.
The group, along with a handful of parents and alumni, gathered on the lawn in front of the school along Edgehill Avenue around 11 a.m. The University School of Nashville Student Union for Action organized the event, calling for the resignation of school director Amani Reed and assistant head of school Quinton Walker.
Students led the group in chants saying, "Reed must leave," "protect our kids" and "save our school." At times, they turned to faced the doors of the school, where one student said Reed was inside. The group also marched around the block, chanting with signs in hand as they wound along 21st Avenue South before returning to campus.
Dean Masullo, who taught English at the school for 15 years, was suspended in May immediately after a female student came forward and accused him of grooming and sexually harassing her. Masullo was ultimately fired in July. The student has since graduated. The Tennessean is not naming her, as it does not identify victims of sexual harassment.
In August, the former student's lawyer sent a letter to the school's board of trustees lambasting the response of school leaders to the situation. It said the school failed to hire an independent investigative team, despite Reed's claims it had engaged "third-party experts." The letter also said Walker promised to keep the former student and her family updated on what was happening, but instead deferred to the school's lawyer to communicate with them.
The letter also took issue with nearly $30,000 paid to Masullo as part of a separation agreement. The student union, formed in the wake of Masullo's firing, has also voiced concerns over the school's response and the payment.
"Paying off a predator is not the answer," the former student said at the demonstration Wednesday.
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