WILMINGTON — Some parents and supporters of Roland Grise Middle School reacted with confusion after the school’s principal sent home a letter saying “former band director” Peter Frank, who has been charged with a dozen felony sex crimes, was “no longer working” at the school, despite statements from the New Hanover County School district saying Frank was on paid leave.
Frank surrendered to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office on Monday evening; he had apparently been under investigation for several weeks after a woman contacted the District Attorney’s office in December alleging she had been touched inappropriately by Frank in 2003.
On Tuesday, Roland Grise Principal Charles Broadfoot sent out a letter to parents and supporters. In emails, Broadfoot wrote “please see the attached letter in regards to Mr. Pete Frank, the former Band Director at Roland-Grise.”
In that letter, Broadfoot wrote, “Mr. Frank is no longer working at our school.”
On Wednesday morning, New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) spokeperson Caress Clegg responded to questions about the perceived difference between Broadfoot’s statement and NHCS’s statement that Frank was suspended with pay, pending a complete investigation.
“Please refer to the district’s statement released Tuesday, January 28, 2020, regarding the employment status regarding Mr. Frank,” Clegg wrote, indicating that Frank is indeed still employed by NHCS and on paid suspension.
NHCS did not clarify why Broadfoot’s letter did not indicate Frank had not been fired. The district has also not responded to questions about whether it will conduct its own investigation into Frank as it has in the past cases of alleged abuse, including former teachers Michael Kelly and Nicholas Oates.
You can find Broadfoot’s letter, below.
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