The recent arrest of Sussex Central High School Principal Dana I. Goodman has sent shockwaves through teachers, parents and students statewide. Goodman, arrested on rape charges involving a 17-year-old female student at the high school, was being held this week on $331,000 cash-only bail. Following the past week’s events, the regularly scheduled Indian River School Board meeting on Tuesday, May 6, had another topic for board members to consider in their executive session: Who would be named the acting praincipal of Sussex Central?
Familiar face in school
The board meeting, scheduled months prior to last week’s arrest of Goodman, concluded with the decision that Robert Powell, a former school administrator, would serve as the interim principal for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year. The board also assigned Assistant Superintendent Gary Brittingham to the school, as well, for the remainder of the school year.
Powell, who spent 26 years as a teacher and administrator in the Indian River School District before retiring from the Woodbridge School District in 2005, began as a health teacher at Selbyville Middle School in 1975 and received the district’s Teacher of the Year Award in 1980.
That same year, he became assistant principal at Sussex Central Middle School and served in that capacity until 1989, when he was named the school’s principal. He was principal of Sussex Middle until 2001 and was named Delaware’s Principal of the Year in 1999. He accepted a principal’s position in the Woodbridge School District in 2001.
“The Board of Education has put Sussex Central High School in good hands. Mr. Powell and Mr. Brittingham are competent and experienced administrators who will assure that the final six weeks of the school year run smoothly,” Superintendent Susan Bunting said Wednesday.
“We are especially pleased to have Mr. Powell back in our ranks,” she noted. “He is a talented educator who will work extremely hard to keep students and staff focused on instruction as the school year comes to a close.”
Powell has recently served as a hearing officer for the Indian River School District, and as of Thursday, May 8, he was set to begin his duties at Sussex Central High School.
Goodman investigation continuing
Goodman, 38, of Easton, Md., was charged last Friday with 30 counts of fourth-degree rape, and continual sexual abuse of a child, all of which are felonies.
According to police records, he is accused of engaging in consensual sexual encounters with the student since January, up until late April, in hotels in Laurel and around Dover, as well as in his car. His car was seized from the Sussex Central High School parking lot by state police officers on Friday, May 2, pending further investigation.
Goodman was ordered not to have any contact, directly or indirectly, with children younger than 18, including the victim, nor with the Indian River School District or its employees.
According to Delaware State Public Information Officer Cpl. Jeffery Whitmarsh, the investigation into Goodman began after an anonymous letter was received by the school board informing them of the alleged affair. It was turned into state police by the district.
Whitmarsh said that, upon examination of the student’s cell phone, investigators found “salacious wording” in text messages concerning sexual activity between the sender and the victim. During investigation, the victim received a message from someone who signed their message as “D,” later identified as Goodman.
Following announcement of the charges against Goodman, teachers and parents have voiced their disgust and disapproval of his reported actions. Parents and teachers across the district were informed of the situation by automated phone calls last Friday evening and received an update mid-week this week.
Concern had also surfaced that Goodman’s name might be on the diplomas set to be handed out to graduating seniors later this spring. But the school board has assured students and parents that diplomas without his signature are on their way and will arrive in time to be handed to the graduating class.
Any individuals who feel they were victimized by Goodman are being encouraged to call state police investigators at (302) 856-5850, ext. 219.
As of Wednesday, May 7, no further reports of criminal wrongdoing have surfaced.
“There have been no other developments,” said Delaware State Director of Public Information Sgt. Joshua A. Bushweller. “We have not had any other victims come forward. The investigation is still ongoing, but it has not led to any other illegal activity at this time.”
Goodman joined the staff of Sussex Central High School during the 2006-2007 school year, and had previously worked in two Maryland schools – as principal at North Dorchester Middle School in Dorchester County and as assistant principal at St. Michael’s Middle and High School in Talbot County. Attempts by the Coastal Point to contact representatives from the Talbot County School District were made this week but were unsuccessful.
With help from the IRSD school board, a new principal is in place and support from parents and teachers, Sussex Central looked this week to get back on track as quickly as possible after the shocking allegations against Goodman.
“We have met with the faculty… and we are going to assure the students have quality learning experiences from now until the end of the school year,” Bunting said.
See previous coverage: http://bethanybeachnews.com/content/breaking_news_schs_principal_arreste...