La Plata, MD – Dr. Kimberly Hill, superintendent of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has written a letter to parents and staff outlining steps the school is taking for the upcoming school year in the wake of the arrest and criminal indictment of Carlos Deangelo Bell, 30 of Waldorf, July 3.
Bell, who is HIV positive, is accused of sexually abusing middle-age school children at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School and other locations while a teacher’s assistant and sports coach since 2014. In researching Bell’s history, Charles County Government found that he had been coaching sports in the county with its recreation and parks department for longer than that, fueling speculation that there may be even more victims than previously thought.
Hill’s letter was sent to parents July 17.
“Charles County Public Schools is going through a difficult time right now,” Hill stated in the letter. “As the superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, I can assure you that we are going to do all that we can to address every challenge we are facing. We are working closely with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Health Department and Center for Children to be sure that victims receive the support they need.
“It is during times of adversity that people must work together, and we appreciate how our community has come together during this tough time,” Hill added.
She outlined six immediate steps CCPS has initiated in the wake of the Bell revelations.
• A public webpage was activated on July 6, 2017, to communicate and provide transparency with the community.
• Information nights for Benjamin Stoddert Middle School staff and parents have been scheduled.
• The Charles County Center for Children announced that it will provide free therapy for victims of sexual abuse during and after the investigation.
• New lessons have been selected to help students recognize the signs of sexual harassment and/or assault and how to get help.
• CCPS has partnered with the Center for Children to conduct nationally recognized training for all employees on how to protect children from sexual abuse. This is an enhancement to the required training already in place.
• CCPS hiring practices have been reviewed and will be posted on their web site, including steps the county will take when an employee is accused of misconduct.
“During the recent press conference regarding the allegations against Mr. Carlos Bell, I promised our community that Charles County Public Schools would act to review our hiring procedures, review curriculum regarding sexual harassment/assault and review our employee training processes,” Hill states in the letter. “I also promised to communicate with our community to make this process as transparent as possible.”
“We will continue to keep you updated as we move forward through this difficult process,” Hill said. “I stand firm in my belief that the actions of any one individual do not represent the goodness of the 3,500 people who work for Charles County Public Schools. Our people are strong, and we will not be defined by the actions of any one person. We will be even stronger as we navigate the days ahead.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com