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A McCall Middle School teacher was arraigned on June 12 for allegedly possessing child pornography.
In a letter to parents and staffers, Superintendent Dr. Frank Hackett stated that upon learning of the allegations, eighth-grade teacher Jason Van Dinter, was put on immediate leave.
Hackett said Van Dinter wasn’t in school Friday, June 12 and is now prohibited from entering any building in the district or having contact with students while the matter is pending.
“Currently, we have no evidence suggesting that these criminal charges involve any students within the Winchester Public Schools,” he wrote.
Hackett said as a parent and an educator, he holds the trust that families place in the schools as a sacred responsibility.
“Our educators honor that trust every day, and it is deeply disturbing when an individual’s conduct violates that trust,” he stated.
Because this is a police and a personnel matter, Hackett said he’s limited in what he can share.
Hackett told the Winchester News on Friday evening that he had no further information on the situation at the moment.
School Committee Chair Tim Matthews declined to comment, stating any future statements would come through the superintendent’s office.
Hackett ended the letter to the McCall School Community writing, “I can assure you that we regard this with the utmost seriousness and will act swiftly and appropriately. I will share additional information as I am able.”
Calls to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office were not immediately returned.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Chris Stevens is an award-winning journalist who has spent 25 years chasing, editing and photographing stories on the North Shore. She is the co-founder and managing editor of Gotta Know Medford.
