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Nichols alumna reports past sexual relation with a teacher in 1990’s

WBFO News file photo by Eileen Buckley

Allegations of a student-teacher sexual relationship that occurred more than two-decades ago is being investigated at Nichols School in Buffalo. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley reports.    

Nichols issued a news release saying Nichols School leaders received letters . The first came from a former female student who detailed a sexual relationship she claims she allegedly had with a teacher in the early 1990's.

The school also received a second letter from another former student from the same class supporting the events in the first letter.  The school says the teacher in question left Nichols more than a decade ago. Still Board chairman Jeremy Jacobs said they take the letters "seriously." 

“Today we informed Nichols families, alumni, faculty and staff that we recently received a letter from a Nichols alumna that detailed a sexual relationship between her and a Nichols teacher in the early 1990's,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Jeremy M. Jacobs Jr. “Subsequently, we received a second letter from a Nichols alumna in the same class supporting the events detailed in the first. We took the letters seriously, and moved quickly to open an independent investigation. The faculty member in question left Nichols more than a decade ago.”   

Credit WBFO News file photo by Eileen Buckley
Jerry Jacobs, Jr., co-CEO of Delaware North & Chair of the Nichols Board of Trustees, & Bill Clough, Head of School, September of 2016.

Nichols has launched an independent investigation retaining a Washington, D.C. based firm that has experience in investigating school-based sexual misconduct.    

"Experts from the firm have begun an investigation into the allegations. We asked everyone in the Nichols community who might have knowledge of any inappropriate past or present faculty-student relationships to contact the investigator,” Jacobs said. “We committed to the Nichols community that board and school leaders will treat these reports sensitively and with due respect and that we will move quickly and transparently to do what is right. We want to assure the community that we are committed to an honest self-examination of any issues that arise through this process."

The school noted faculty and staff are reminded at the start of each school year ago maintaining professional relationships with students and to report any concerns or misconduct.  

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