An official overseeing the response by St. Paul’s School in Concord to cases of campus sexual misconduct has resigned, saying school leaders are blocking his efforts.
Visit NHPR's earlier reporting on sexual abuse at St. Paul's school.
In 2018, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office reached a settlement agreement with the school, requiring an outside official - Jeffrey Maher - to oversee St. Paul's compliance. That year, an investigation found credible evidence of sexual abuse against students by faculty going back decades.
Since then, Maher has released a summary revealing multiple reports of abuse involving students on and off campus.
In his resignation letter sent Monday, Maher said the school had created “an intolerable working environment” for him and tried to limit his access to information.
Sarah Aldag, a spokesperson for the school, denies these allegations.
“Mr. Maher’s contention about the school resisting investigations is false,” said the school in a statement. “To the contrary, the school has initiated numerous investigations using independent professionals into allegations of misconduct received by the school, regardless of whether there may be civil or criminal consequences."
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The school believes Maher overstepped his position, and says it mentioned these concerns to the state in early October.
“We believe that Mr. Maher has acted outside the role of the Compliance Overseer as set forth in the Settlement Agreement,” said the school in a statement. “We believe that the school has complied with all of its obligations under the Settlement Agreement and will continue to honor these obligations going forward.
Maher started working for the school in 2019. The position was contracted for up to five years.
