Published: January 05, 2007 10:13 pm            

NEWFANE: Parents react to teacher’s arrest

“Rather subtle acts” added up to arrest of Newfane music teacher Mark Matteson, sheriff’s investigator said

The day after the arrest of a Newfane Middle School chorus teacher, parents of students at the school are getting up to speed on what happened.

Cheryl Phillips has a son in 5th grade who takes music class with Mark Matteson, the teacher accused of inappropriately touching two 12-year-old female students. Phillips said she was pleased that Newfane addressed the issue immediately in a letter, not just by a posting on their Web site.

“At least they opened the door for questions and concerns,” Phillips said. “They need that direct notification addressing the situation.”

Matteson, 31, 226 New Road, East Amherst, was charged Thursday with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of third-degree sexual abuse, all misdemeanors.

Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski wrote a letter mailed out to parents addressing the situation Thursday afternoon. The letter includes basic information about Matteson and the charges and notified parents the teacher had been suspended with pay, as per protocol.

“We will not be privy to the details of the investigation as it is being conducted,” Pogorzelski wrote. “There is no doubt, however, that this situation has the potential to overshadow our primary educational purpose. With your assistance, we will strive to maintain an educationally sound and supportive school environment.”

Pogorzelski said Friday that school was running as normal despite this “sad event.”

The investigation against Matteson officially began Dec. 20 after the sheriff’s department was notified by Pogorzelski, said Chief Investigator Bruce Roth.

“A couple of the girls started to talk to one another,” Roth said. “One brought it to a teacher, who told it to a guidance counselor who told the principal who told the superintendent.”

On Dec. 20, Investigator Joe Taylor began to look into the case. Roth said several students of Matteson had come forward, although initial charges were only brought for two girls.

According to Roth, some of the students’ allegations went back to last spring.

“This wasn’t an isolated incident,” Roth said. “There was a pattern of rather subtle acts.”

Brian Hellner, co-founder of Newfane CARES (Citizens for Accountability and Responsibility in our Educational System), said his son, who attends the middle school, wasn’t surprised by the allegations.

There may have been some talk around the school about the alleged incidents involving Matteson. Hellner said his son didn’t seem surprised when he spoke to him about the teacher’s arrest, saying there had been jokes going around the school about Matteson and students for a while.

Hellner, a frequent critic of the school board, was angered by the situation.

“I’m disgusted and outraged that that happened,” Hellner said. “There needs to be more accountability.”

Newfane Parent Ellen Kelly’s children have been in Matteson’s class. She said she was more concerned when former middle school Principal Frank Waclawek was charged for allegedly exposing himself to an undercover Amherst police officer in Ellicott Creek Park. Kelly said she believes the accusations against Matteson are false.

“I believe he’s innocent,” Kelly said. “My children have never had a problem with him.”

Newfane parent Sheryl Silva said she hopes the district creates a more stringent screening process for employees.

“This is the third school official from Newfane that has had something like this happen,” Silva said. “They should probably screen them better and listen to the kids.”

Matteson does not have a criminal record. Roth said Taylor carefully approached the investigation, which is not quite over.

“This is someone’s life and career,” Roth said. “By the same token, we had to make sure we were right and know what was going on.”

A message left on Matteson’s listed phone number was not returned Friday night.

Pogorzelski said the district and school board will not make any immediate policy changes as a result of Matteson’s arrest. Even if the district had more stringent rules, they may not be able to catch someone who might consider harming children, said Sheriff Thomas Beilein.

“Human nature is human nature,” Beilein said. “Regardless of your background investigations and all of the interviews, somewhere in somebody’s mind there lurks somewhat of a little bit of evil. To say there is a positive screening method to keep this from happening ... really, human beings do stupid things.”

        

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