Parents accused Miller of misconduct at the school’s May 11 prom in West Chester Twp. and during other school events, school officials said.
The Archdiocese received complaints that Miller was allegedly intoxicated and made comments encouraging students to behave in a sexual manner at the prom.
Jim Rigg, archdiocesan schools superintendent, notified Fenwick parents on May 18 that the matter had been investigated and “it was determined that Mr. Miller was not under the influence of alcohol nor did he encourage students to act in a sexual manner.”
On May 24, Rigg’s office re-opened its investigation after receiving more complaints from parents.
After a new allegation that was not related to the Fenwick prom was shared by a student on May 25, Rigg placed Miller on paid administrative leave and did not permit him to attend Fenwick’s graduation ceremonies that evening.
School officials said Miller turned in his resignation on Wednesday.
Trevor Block has been named the interim principal, according to Dan Andriacco, archdiocesan spokesman.
“We anticipate initiating a nationwide search for the new principal of Fenwick in the fall of 2012,” Rigg said. “It is our hope that a new principal will be secured by the following spring, and the new principal will begin his/her duties in July of 2013. Know that we are committed to finding the best, most vibrantly Catholic individual to be principal.”
Schnurr also appointed the Rev. Jason Bedel as Fenwick’s dean of mission. In this position, Bedel will oversee the religious dimensions of the school, including monitoring the Catholic identity of the school and assuring the quality of religious instruction.
Bedel was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese in 2008. He joined the faculty and administration of Fenwick in 2011 after serving as a teacher at Lehman High School in Sidney.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or Ed.Richter@coxinc.com.
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