Headline: Charges may prompt SVSU policy changes
The "may" is the scarey part.
September 23, 2008 - Shawn R. Pratt, 36, a paraprofessional at Mount Anthony Union High School, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of aggravated sexual assault against a minor and two counts of lewd and lascivious cond
uct with a child.
When he was hired in 2005 Pratt had several criminal convictions, including driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana and domestic assault. He was retained even after he was convicted in 2007 of simple assault and domestic assault. Employees are not required to notify the school district when they are arrested.
On Sept. 5, Pratt was convicted of violating his probation and sentenced to serve 24 days in prison, which was to begin on Oct. 5. Four employees, including MAU Principal Sue Maguire, math teacher Mike Canavan, science teacher Charles Moses and Marge Collins, a special education aide, were listed in court records as witnesses for Pratt for the Sept. 5 hearing.
Moses, who teaches chemistry, said he knew Pratt in the classroom and also played basketball with him.School employees who testified in Pratt's favor did so as private citizens, not school employees. According to Bennington County State's Attorney Erica Marthage, teachers at the school appeared at the hearing to testify on his behalf, trying to have the charge downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor, because Pratt would lose his job if convicted of a felony.
"I believe he's an incredible asset to the school," Moses said. "To put him in an institution would be taking an asset to society and making him somebody we would have to take care of."
Canavan told the court that Pratt was a "very kind and nurturing person," who was "perfect for kids" and a "definite asset to the school." Canavan testified that he was aware of some of Pratt's convictions, but does not believe that Pratt is a violent person.
"I personally think that that's not him," he said.
Canavan also said he did not think it was unusual that a person with Pratt's criminal record would be allowed to work at the school.
Collins said she has served as a mentor to Pratt. Pratt "made poor choices in his teens and 20s," but he has had "a real desire to change."
The board will look into changing the policy, possibly requiring school employees to report to the board if they have been arrested.
ARRESTED - Pratt was arrested September 18 after a 10-year-old female told her mother on Sept. 14 that Pratt had been "rubbing my thigh and he rubbed my privates." The incident brought forward other memories of sexual contact with Pratt that she said occurred when she was "2, 3 or 4," Bennington Police Detective Lawrence Cole wrote in the affidavit.
