WARWICK – Allegations of rape and sexual abuse in the 1970s against a former Rocky Hill School faculty member have been brought to light by three alumnae of the Warwick-based private school. The announcement was made in a letter to the community written by James Tracy, head of school, released on Monday.
The rape allegation was received on Thursday, Sept. 8, and the school filed a report with the Warwick Police Department on the same day and informed the former faculty member of the steps being taken.
The accusations came as a result of an investigation of the school’s policies and procedures launched on July 28, which invited members of the school’s community, past and present, to come forward with concerns regarding sexual misconduct. They were asked to present any information to the independent counsel the school retained, attorneys Neal McNamara and Jessica Jewel of Nixon Peabody LLP.
In the Monday letter Tracy applauded the alumnae for their courage to speak of their experiences, and said, “While the School is not a court of law for adjudicating claims, our commitment to our children dictated that, based upon these serious allegations, the accused former faculty member have no further contact with Rocky Hill School. … Abuse of children is antithetical and abhorrent to everything Rocky Hill School believes in and stands for. Our individual and collective hearts go out to all victims of abuse.”