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Date: 12/12/2023
AMHERST — The union representing teachers and staff members is calling for the resignation of a now part-time human resources employee following the release of portions of a Title IX investigation into allegations of harassment and improper conduct by staff at Amherst Regional Middle School towards LGBTQIA+ students.
The Amherst Pelham Education Association indicated in a Dec. 2 statement that District Employee Kathryn Mazur should resign after the investigator into the reported incidents at the middle school called the initial inquiries into the allegations, “highly inadequate and lacking in thoroughness.”
Mazur, who served previously as Human Resources director for the district was identified in the redacted Title IX reports by Investigator Edward Mitnick as conducting analysis of the complaints at the middle school and reporting findings to then Superintendent Michael Morris.
In his findings, Mitnick said interviews were lacking and those with potential firsthand knowledge into allegations of harassment and discrimination were not contacted.
In the wake of the Title IX investigation, Morris took a leave of absence, returned and then resigned with Director of Finance Douglas Slaughter serving as interim superintendent. Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham, named in the investigation, was placed on administrative leave and later separated from the district. The three named staffers, Guidance Counselors Delinda Dykes, Tania Cabrera and Adjustment Counselor Hector Santos were also placed on leave. Several members of the School Committee also resigned their posts.
“In regard to student safety and what was referred to as a “lack of responsiveness to ‘legitimate’ APEA member concerns,” the union statement read, “The APEA finds it extremely problematic that the administrative district employee cited here, Kathy Mazur, remains actively employed in Human Resources to this day.”
Slaughter issued a statement of response of behalf of the district, in defense of Mazur.
“Throughout her career, she had a stellar record of service and, as HR director, had a strong, long-standing relationship with both the APEA and Massachusetts Teachers Association. For that reason, Ms. Mazur was hired on several occasions after her retirement to conduct investigations of employee complaints or grievances, including those noted in the report.”
Slaughter also addressed the APEA’s references to Mitnick’s findings concerning Mazur and the initial investigation.
The APEA points to language in Attorney Mitnick’s report that finds Ms. Mazur’s investigation of a particular allegation was insufficient.
“It’s important to understand that Ms. Mazur was never the subject of Attorney Mitnick’s investigation. Ms. Mazur, therefore, participated in the investigation as a witness with no expectation that Attorney Mitnick might be evaluating her actions. Accordingly, she did not share information with Attorney Mitnick that she certainly would have if she believed she was being accused of wrongdoing,” Slaughter wrote.
Slaughter continued to defend Mazur’s role and actions pertaining to the investigation.
“I believe strongly that Ms. Mazur conducted the investigations for which she was hired as thoroughly as possible within the investigatory scope she was given and with great fidelity to the parameters defined within the APEA contract for investigations of complaints.”
Slaughter also stated that he agreed with the APEA’s statement looking for responsiveness and accountability on the part of the district and its human resources department.
“I believe this work has already begun thanks, in large part, to the efforts of Kathryn Mazur,” he wrote.