St. Helens High School Closes Amid Student Protests Over Teacher Sex Abuse Scandal

St. Helens High School in Oregon has been closed due to widespread student-led protests following the arrest of two teachers accused of sex abuse. The protests began on Thursday morning, with a crowd of mostly students gathering outside the school and later moving to the edge of Gable Road. The demonstration was in response to the arrests of current teacher Eric Stearns and retired teacher Mark Collins, who were taken into custody after a two-month investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse at the school.

The school district announced the closure of the high school at around 11 a.m. on Thursday, citing the need to maintain a secure environment as many students and staff expressed feeling unsafe amid the protests. The school will remain closed on Friday and has now been extended through Monday.

The scandal has sparked intense outrage in the community, with parents and students criticizing the school district for allowing Stearns to continue teaching despite knowing about the police investigation since September. At a school board meeting on Wednesday, furious parents called for the entire board to resign, accusing members of ignoring repeated accusations and failing to protect students.

The protests saw students chanting in the rain and receiving support from passing cars. Some community members provided water and food to the protesters. Signs held by the students criticized the school and district’s leadership, emphasizing the need for a safe learning environment.

This incident is particularly troubling given that the St. Helens School District agreed to a $3.5 million sex abuse settlement last spring, highlighting ongoing concerns about the district’s handling of such allegations.