The Pella Community School District has released a statement in relation to student safety and sexual abuse.

On their website, Superintendent Greg Ebeling has posted an “Open Letter to Survivors,” which addresses any child who may have suffered sexual abuse while enrolled in the district.

It reads, in part:
“I am deeply saddened that you were hurt during your time here at Pella Community Schools. On behalf of myself and the Pella Community School District, I am truly sorry.

My main concern is that you are well and have trusted people in your lives who continue to provide love and support. I encourage you, victims and survivors, to come forward in whatever way you feel comfortable and safe. I want you to know that we believe you.

The district is committed to providing a safe environment for students to learn.

A concerted effort is being made, based on concerns that have been brought to our attention, to learn from past experiences and improve our system. We are working on ways to educate students and staff on creating and maintaining safe environments, recognizing and eliminating inappropriate behaviors, and outlining and defining a clear process on how to report sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse of students at the hands of school employees is unacceptable and we will have zero tolerance for this type of behavior. Our desire is for all victims to feel safe in coming forward, knowing they will have continuous support from us.”

The release posted by the district emphasizes that, “Victims need to feel safe to speak out about their abuse and their abuser. They deserve nothing less than our full attention, empathy and grace.”

School administration shared the following resources:

RAINN Website
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
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Rape Crisis Website
Rape Crisis Hotline: 1-210-349-7273
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The TREVOR Project Website
TREVOR Hotline: 1-866-488-7386