Saint-François-Xavier principal dismissed safety concerns as rumours prior to vice-principal’s arrest

Internal correspondence obtained by The Sarnia Journal reveals the principal of École secondaire catholique Saint-François-Xavier told parents that safety concerns were merely “rumours” days before a vice-principal was arrested. The school administration assured families there was “no concern related to student safety,” even as police were investigating multiple counts of sexual assault and exploitation.

Internal correspondence obtained by The Sarnia Journal reveals that the principal of École secondaire catholique Saint-François-Xavier characterized concerns regarding a staff member as "rumeurs" (rumours) that "should not be considered as facts" shortly before a major police intervention. In a French-language letter sent to families, Principal Melissa Fraser sought to reassure parents by stating there was "currently no concern related to student safety".

This reassurance was sharply contradicted on February 21, when the Sarnia Police Service announced multiple charges against Kevin Partington, a 33-year-old vice-principal at the school. Partington faces four counts of sexual assault, four counts of sexual exploitation, making child pornography, and break and enter with intent. A follow-up letter from Carolyn Bastien, Director of Education for Conseil scolaire catholique Providence, confirmed the board was informed of the arrest on February 20, acknowledging a "serious matter involving our school community".

The earlier letter from Principal Fraser emphasized the school’s obligation to respect confidentiality and urged parents not to disseminate unverified information. "We recognize that rumours can sometimes circulate in a school community," the letter stated, according to a translation. The message further reminded parents that the school and the board are under a legal obligation to maintain confidentiality, using this as a basis to avoid sharing further details . "Our commitment remains to maintain a learning environment where the safety and well-being of students are at the heart of our actions"

When asked to clarify the timeline of these warnings and the decision to label student concerns as rumours, Carolyn Bastien responded on behalf of the board. "The Board does not have any further comment at this time beyond the media release issued on Saturday, February 21," Bastien told The Sarnia Journal. The board has declined to explain why the community was told no safety concerns existed while an investigation into exploitation involving students in 2023 and 2024 was active.

For many parents, the dismissal of their concerns as rumours has created a sense of betrayal. Public comments and direct conversations with The Sarnia Journal confirm that several families received these assurances while their children were actively expressing fear. The discrepancy between the principal's dismissal and the director's eventually confirmed "serious matter" highlights a breakdown in transparency that parents say left students vulnerable.

The Sarnia Police Service originally published the media release but temporarily removed it out of an "abundance of caution" regarding a potential publication ban. Police have since reposted the details, clarifying that a Section 517 ban only applies to bail hearing evidence and does not prevent naming the accused or the investigative context. While the board now cites legal and privacy obligations to limit information, these internal letters show that the narrative of rumours was used by the school to maintain a spectacle of normalcy until the moment charges were officially laid.