A Message from Superintendent Saxe

I am writing today to address rising online commentary surrounding Spring Mills Middle School. It is important to emphasize that Berkeley County Schools (BCS) prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students above all else. Recent online commentary has, unfortunately, misrepresented the care and diligence with which we handle reports of inappropriate relationships or criminal behavior. Such misrepresentations can send a harmful message and potentially discourage individuals from coming forward to report concerns—a disservice to those we are committed to protecting. Let me be very clear: BCS staff and students should never hesitate to report any questionable behavior or wrongdoing. Every report is taken seriously and acted upon.

We are committed to transparency while upholding our responsibility to protect our students’ privacy and ensure due process for all involved. Public disclosure of sensitive matters occurs only when deemed appropriate and necessary. At times, our internal investigations run parallel with other agencies, and we take great care to avoid any interference, ensuring a thorough process on both sides.

To provide clarity, I want to outline our process for handling complaints. This involves a comprehensive investigation and close coordination with external agencies, including the State Department of Education, Child Protective Services, and law enforcement.

In cases of alleged inappropriate conduct involving a school employee and a student, BCS reports the allegations to Child Protective Services and law enforcement. When allegations involve potential sexual misconduct (Title IX), our Title IX coordinator is notified and immediately contacts the parents of the students involved. Supportive measures, such as counseling and guidance on filing a formal Title IX complaint, are offered. In some instances, the Title IX coordinator may choose to initiate a formal complaint.

Even if a Title IX complaint is not filed by the parents, BCS thoroughly investigates allegations of employee misconduct. All parties involved are interviewed, including the accused. If an employee chooses to resign at any stage of the investigation, before, during, or after, this does not halt our process. Once our investigation is concluded, all relevant documentation is forwarded to the State Department of Education, with information such as employee resignations during investigations maintained in a database accessible to all county boards of education.

BCS staff members are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. Any incidents concerning potential child mistreatment—physical, emotional, or sexual abuse—are reported to law enforcement and the West Virginia Department of Human Services within 24 hours. We cooperate fully with these agencies during their investigations.

In this age of social media, our school system trains students and employees on appropriate communications. Further, we encourage parents to monitor all interactions between students and school staff. According to our policy, appropriate communication between students and teachers must occur through district-approved platforms, such as Schoology, NTouch, and other school-facilitated tools. Communication through unapproved channels, including social media or private messaging apps, is a violation of the Acceptable Use of Technology and Networks Policy and should be reported immediately.

I hope this provides clarity and reassurance that BCS adheres strictly to all policies when addressing reports. For further information on our Title IX policy, and grievance procedures, or to access the complaint form, please visit Berkeley County Schools Title IX Page.

Yours in education,

Dr. Ryan S. Saxe