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School tackles fate of official accused of sexual abuse
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Posted on Nov 30 2000
The Board of Directors of Saipan International School will make a decision today on whether Board Chair Patrick Mendiola Calvo should continue holding the post amid charges of sexual abuse of a child.
Parents of students attending the Saipan International School are waiting for the outcome of the board meeting as Mr. Calvo has apparently shown no intention of resigning from the position.
“We want him to take a leave from his board functions while the case is ongoing because the name of the school will be dragged when the case is reported by the media,” said a concerned parent who declined to be identified.
The complaint filed before the Superior Court alleged that Mr. Calvo sexually abused two young girls in two separate incidents in 1997 and 1998. The girls were 14 and 12 years old at the time the abuses were committed.
Mr. Calvo, who is also the chair of the Saipan and Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation, has pled not guilty to charges during last Monday’s arraignment.
Sources said the board will try to convince Mr. Calvo to voluntarily take a leave of absence to save the school from further embarrassment.
According to sources, some parents have allegedly threatened to protest the presence of Mr. Calvo in the board and even transfer their children to another school if he continues to ignore the plea of the community.
If Mr. Calvo would refuse to take a leave of absence, the board will be forced to vote on his removal, another source said. “He is still innocent until proven guilty by the court but he should spare this institution from further embarrassment because the charges made are very serious,” the source added.
Saipan International School Principal Rachel Udstuen has refused to comment on the issue. (Lindablue F. Romero)
