Sexual Misconduct Alleged At Altamont School Between 70s and 90s

BIRMINGHAM, AL - An independent study revealed that one of Birmingham's most prestigious private schools may have a sordid past. Allegations of sexual misconduct by school employees dating back to the 1970s - ranging from inappropriate comments to actual sexual relations between faculty and students - were revealed by multiple alumnae in the study.

A report by Alabama Media Group said a letter sent to more than 4,000 former and current students by Principal Christopher Durst and Board President Michael S. Denniston detailed the findings of a private company hired to looking into allegations made earlier this year from more than 25 years ago expressed concerns about the school’s response at the time of the alleged misconduct.

The six-month investigation was launched “certain courageous alumnae” contacted school officials about the past misconduct. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

According to school officials, Praesidium - a firm that has worked for 20 years to help schools and other organizations investigate sexual abuse - conducted 35 interviews, which included survivors, former students, current and former employees, and trustees.

The report found:

• There were first-hand reports made by ten survivors concerning former employee sexual misconduct.
• One former employee who worked in athletics was alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct in the 1980 to 1985 time frame (three first-hand reporters and four second-hand reporters). The misconduct included dating students, sexual relationships with students and boundary-crossing behavior involving inappropriate comments. Some of the reports may describe occurrences that constituted potential criminal conduct given the ages of some of the survivors.
• A second former employee who was a teacher/administrator/counselor was alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct in the 1980 to 1992 time frame (four first-hand and two second-hand reporters). The misconduct involved sexual relationships, touching, kissing, unwelcome advances, inappropriate comments, and giving students alcohol. Reports of interactions with one of the students may describe criminal conduct given her age.
• A third former employee who worked in athletics was alleged to have kissed a student in the 1979 time frame (one first-hand reporter). This same reporter alleged (as a second-hand report) that this former employee sexually assaulted another student in the 1978 or 1979 time frame.
• A fourth former employee who was an administrator was alleged to have sexually assaulted a student in the 1970 time frame at Birmingham University School (the predecessor boys’ school to Altamont). This was based on a first-hand report.
• A fifth former employee who worked in athletics was alleged to have engaged in kissing and fondling of a student for a period of approximately two years in the 1981 to 1983 time frame (one first-hand reporter).
• Inappropriate behavior by three other former employees in the 1980s, alleging misconduct ranging from boundary crossings to sexual misconduct. The investigators were unable to make any specific findings on these concerns due to a lack of corroborating evidence.

Two former employees were interviewed and denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. The others either did not cooperate or were not located.

In addition, during the course of this investigation, concerns were raised that some current and former trustees of the school were previously aware of historical sexual misconduct by employees from the 1980s.

The board reviewed each situation and found that, in some cases, the trustee did make an attempt to bring allegations of historical sex abuse to light, although in the absence of clear procedures on how to handle issues from 20 years ago, no formal reports were made. In other cases, trustees were alleged to have been aware of misconduct when they themselves were minors or the allegations were not corroborated.

The letter from the board can be read in its entirety here.

Image via Altamont School