BANGOR, Maine — The Waterville Board of Education voted 6-1 on Monday night to dismiss Waterville High School Principal Don Reiter, who was placed on paid administrative leave on Sept. 1 after a student accused him of seeking sex with her.
It was not immediately clear if Reiter will appeal the decision, said his attorney, Gregg Frame. Reiter, who has been on paid administrative leave since Sept. 1, has denied the allegations.
“I think we’re just digesting the vote and we’re going to look at the finding of facts,” Frame said. “We’ve got 30 days by law to appeal, so prudence dictates that you kind of take a step back for a day or so and gather yourself, and then I’ll circle back to my client and see what he wants to do,” he said, adding, “I certainly think there are a number of appealable issues in this, but that ultimately is going to be his call.”
The board’s decision came shortly after a former student at a New Hampshire high school that had employed Reiter approached a city police detective last week and told him Reiter had engaged in inappropriate behavior with some of her friends.
Sgt. Bill Bonney was approached by the ex-student of Mascenic Regional High School of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, at a human trafficking conference in southern Maine on Nov. 12, Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey announced in a news release Monday.
Massey also released a timeline of the investigation into the accusations against Reiter in New Hampshire. He said Waterville police had investigated the Waterville student’s allegation and turned in their findings to the Kennebec County district attorney’s office in September for consideration, but in light of the accusations from New Hampshire involving Reiter, the investigation was reopened.
According to the timeline released by Massey, two former Mascenic students contacted Bonney on Nov. 12 and said they were “familiar with inappropriate behavior by Donald Reiter,” which the chief said included conduct similar to that alleged by the Waterville student.
That same day, Bonney spoke with a student who claimed she had an inappropriate relationship with Reiter and the student’s mother called the detective later and said Reiter had written the then-17-year-old student letters.
The next day, Bonney traveled to New Hampshire to speak with school staff, the mother of the student who allegedly received the letters and another former student who disclosed an alleged inappropriate relationship with Reiter, which allegedly culminated in a sexual relationship during her senior year or after graduation, Massey said.
Bonney on Nov. 14 received 147 pages of letters allegedly written to the student by Reiter. The letters frequently reference his love for her, their “taboo” relationship, a kiss that they shared, and other personal comments, according to Massey.
Massey said Bonney was contacted by the police chief in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, on Monday, requesting his reports be forwarded to the Granite State department. The chief added Massey still needs to interview two other former Mascenic High students regarding the allegations against Reiter.
Anyone with information on the case should contact Bonney at 680-4700.
Reiter’s attorney claims the Waterville High School student was the one who made advances, putting her hand on Reiter’s thigh and calling him attractive.
Reiter’s attorney also said the principal immediately stopped the conversation and then reported it to his supervisor, but the superintendent has recommended he be dismissed from his position.
BDN writer Ryan McLaughlin and CBS 13 contributed to this report.