ATHOL – Following claims that Athol and Royalston teachers face almost constant harassment by students, school administrators have issued a response that the situation is limited to a small number of students.

At the Nov. 20 meeting of the Athol Royalston Regional School Committee, a number of educators rose to claim a lack of support from the district’s administration.

Teacher morale, one educator told the committee, is at very low point as they continue to deal with students who are “flinging racial, misogynistic and homophobic slurs at each other.” Teacher Max McPhee told the panel he was quitting his job within the week due in part to students calling him a “pedophile” and brushing off detentions and other punishments. In addition, he said, the response from both parents and administration has been lacking. McPhee has since left the district.

“Students are coming to school every day harassing each other, tormenting the staff, destroying school property,” said Athol Teachers Union President Kerry Conway.

At the Nov. 20 meeting, the committee was given results of a survey completed by some 200 district staff — about 85% of all union members, according to Conway. Fewer than 20% said they were “feeling pretty good” or “having a great year.” Just over 40% said they were “neutral” and 37% described themselves as “on the brink” or “feeling hopeless.”

More than 60% said they don’t believe the administration has the leadership and resources necessary to support teachers and staff.

The Athol Daily News contacted School Superintendent Matt Ehrenworth and School Committee Chair Tammy Duquette the day after the meeting to discuss their response to the educators’ complaints. A week later, Nov. 27, Ehrenworth stated in an email that he and Duquette had been in contact with the principal at each school in the district, all of whom were “compiling quotes” in order to craft a response.

“Our attorneys need to review it,” he added, “and … we hope to be able to share a response with you early next week.”

A response was ultimately received via email on Thursday, Dec. 5. The email correspondence included written responses from Duquette and each of the district’s principals.

“Despite the challenges faced by many of our students, including homelessness, food insecurity, neglect and domestic violence,” Duquette wrote, “over 90% meet expectations daily. The narrative portrayed in the article (Athol Daily News, Nov. 22) mischaracterized our students and their families, suggesting a broad issue with behavior, which is not reflective of the reality.”

Athol High School Principal David King wrote, “At AHS, 93% of our students avoid Tier-3 behaviors. Half of our student population has never received a single documented incident. Our response to incidents includes skill-building, restorative practices, and consequences, ensuring that students learn and grow from their mistakes.”

According to the AHS student handbook, Tier 3 behavior “refers to instruction and intervention for students that have the highest level of need, requiring ongoing daily support.” This could include bullying, fighting or threats to the safety of the school.

Athol Royalston Middle School Principal Jason Webster concurred, stating, “At ARMS, 91% of our students refrained from Tier-3 behaviors. We encourage our students to take academic risks and learn through their experiences, turning mistakes into successes. Our faculty focuses on meaningful connections with students, guiding them through social-emotional and academic challenges.”

Athol Community Elementary School Principal Sarah Priestly and Royalston Community School Principal Carrie Charette echoed similar sentiments. “Ninety-six percent of our students regularly meet our schoolwide expectations of being kind, safe and responsible. This high level of positive behavior reflects the hard work of our students and the dedication of our staff to fostering a supportive and structured learning environment. Programs like Bear Paws and Walking Feet Awards recognize and celebrate the positive choices our students make every day.”

“At RCS,” wrote Charette, “the teachers and administration collaborate to support students through a restorative practice approach to addressing discipline issues. Our data indicates that 93% of our students follow our building expectations, and only 7% have engaged in Tier-2 behaviors defined by our code of conduct. Our dedicated teachers diligently work to ensure consistent classroom expectations and create a welcoming and supportive environment.”

Duquette gave assurances that “the concerns raised by our staff are heard, respected and deeply valued. We are committed to supporting our educators through coaching, professional development, mentoring and administrative assistance to ensure they have the tools and strategies needed to succeed in their vital roles.”

The committee, she said, has contracted with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to review the district’s existing policies in order to bring them up to date. The committee’s Policy Subcommittee also will review current policies to ensure they align with the district’s strategic improvement plan.

“Ultimately,” Duquette wrote in closing, “while challenges exist, the majority of our students and families are deeply committed to education, and our staff’s dedication to fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment is unwavering.”

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.