The Newport School Committee voted Wednesday to hire an independent investigator to conduct a full review of the assault of a special needs student at Rogers High School.
School Committee Chair James Dring said the decision reflects the committee’s obligation to restore trust and provide a safe environment for students.
“I am outraged at what I saw in those videos,” Dring said. “The disturbing behavior depicted is wrong at any time, in any place — and especially in our schools.”
The independent review will examine the school system’s response to the incidents, including whether procedures were properly followed, where communication or oversight broke down, what systemic issues may have contributed and what corrective actions are required.
Dring said he expects to provide “a full accounting to our community by the end of next month” between the police investigation and the independent review.
“We will make sure no incident like this ever happens again,” Dring said.
The investigation will proceed alongside an ongoing criminal investigation by Newport police. Four Rogers High School students have been arrested since Friday in connection with the locker room assault: two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old. The first student arrested faces two counts of felony assault on persons with severe impairments after investigators determined he assaulted the victim on two separate occasions. The other three were charged with assault.
Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain said the district became aware late Nov. 20 of a video showing what she called “unacceptable” behavior. The district ended the football season immediately and cancelled a junior varsity scrimmage that had been scheduled for Thanksgiving Day.
The police investigation remains active. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Caitlin Poplawski at 401-845-5772 or cpoplawski@newportri.gov.
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