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Chieftains Unsilenced: Ponaganset Demands Internal Investigation and Truth - NOW!

Petition: Demand an Immediate, Independent Internal Investigation into Ponaganset High School's Handling of Title IX Violations - School Staff behaving inappropriately with students.

The recent allegations against former gym teacher Alisha Crins—a reported sexual relationship with a student, backed by explicit videos, texts, and staff confessions of an "open secret"—have shattered trust in our schools. As parents, alumni, and community members, we are outraged that administrators claim ignorance despite years of "red flags" ignored, echoing the 2023 Athletic Department scandals where similar complaints were dismissed and parents were sent a "Cease and Desist" letter to stop complaining.
Under federal Title IX law (20 U.S.C. § 1681), schools must promptly investigate sex-based harassment and assaults on students with "actual knowledge" to prevent hostile environments. Waiting for the state police investigation to conclude risks deliberate indifference, exposing our district to federal scrutiny—including OCR complaints to the U.S. Department of Education that could trigger audits, funding cuts, and lawsuits.

We, the undersigned parents, STUDENTS, and community members, demand the School Committee hire independent outside counsel TODAY for a parallel internal investigation and Title IX review focused on:
-How prior complaints about Crins were handled (or ignored).
-Staff training gaps and reporting failures.
-Remedies for affected students, like counseling and policy reforms.
This isn't about interfering with police—it's about fulfilling your legal duty to protect kids NOW.
Add your name below to join hundreds of voices urging action before the next School Committee meeting. Together, we can restore safety and accountability.
For our children.

Full Name

Anonymity Preference

Anonymity Preference
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Signature Confirmation - I support the demands in the petition above and urge the School Committee to act immediately.

Signature Confirmation - I support the demands in the petition above and urge the School Committee to act immediately.
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Free-form Comment

Share any additional thoughts, including specific knowledge of prior 'red flags' about staff-student interactions (e.g., dates, witnesses). These details help demonstrate 'actual knowledge' under Title IX and strengthen our advocacy. (Anonymous comments welcome; we'll redact for privacy in submissions to the Committee.)
For PHS students: Did you see something and/or say something? Was your report dismissed by a teacher or support staff? Who did you tell - and what did they say or do after that?
These aren't just vents—they're the facts that force admins to face what they ignored, and help shut down the next "open secret."

Optional: Child Grade/Year

To show community breadth (e.g., 'Sophomore at Ponaganset')

Consent to share with Office of Civil Rights (Federal)?

Have a video or other proof of a prior complaint?