WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew today sent the following message to Pentucket Regional School District Families:
“I am writing to you today to inform you of a deeply troubling matter. I have been informed by the Merrimac Police Department that a substitute teacher, Kenneth Niven, who has worked at the Sweetsir and Donaghue Schools has been arrested after allegations of illegal conduct.
“The Pentucket Regional School District is cooperating fully with the Merrimac Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, who are actively investigating these allegations.
“The investigation is in its early stages, and we do not have further details to release at this time. However, I can share that this individual, who had been given a pre-employment background and criminal record check prior to starting as a substitute, has been terminated from their role as an on-call sub, and we have issued a no-trespass order, baring them from all Pentucket Regional School District property.
“We are outraged and disturbed by the allegations presented, and we pledge to continue to assist in whatever way we can with the police investigation.”