The acting superintendent of the St. Helens School District is leaving the role about a month earlier than initially planned.
Steve Webb, in an undated image provided by the St. Helens School District.
Katharine Kimball Photography / St. Helens School District
Steven T. Webb announced Tuesday he would be stepping away on Jan. 31.
Webb joined the district after a scandal involving sex abuse charges against multiple teachers at St. Helens High School came to light, and administrators who didn’t report the abuse were arrested, put on leave or both.
Related: 10 St. Helens employees now on leave in sexual abuse case. School district offers few details
In a letter announcing his departure, Webb said he had reached the goals he set out to accomplish, including the start of an outside investigation, a collaboration with the community and law enforcement, a change in leadership at the high school, and increased transparency between district officials and community stakeholders.
At a news conference on Tuesday, which was streamed live by KATU-TV, district spokesperson J. Marie said that Webb has successfully laid a foundation for community healing. And she said that work will continue.
“There is nothing that can be done quickly to re-establish trust in the wake of the allegations and the situation that this community has faced,” Marie said. “But trust is rebuilt piece by piece, by doing the right work, by following through on commitments.”
Webb did not appear at the Tuesday meeting.
Webb’s former district, Vancouver Public Schools, has also been responding recently to sexual abuse allegations against a teacher who worked there during Webb’s tenure.
Related: Hudson’s Bay high schoolers rally over teacher sexual misconduct allegations
The St. Helens school board said now that Webb is leaving early, it’s expediting the process of finding another temporary superintendent.
The Board of Directors scheduled a planning meeting for Wednesday evening.