RANGELEY – The School Committee is being asked to reconsider disciplinary action handed down against six students for hiring an exotic dancer.

The citizen petition was submitted to the panel Tuesday. It contains 141 signatures and requested that the “decision that was handed down April 8th to the 6 senior boys, for inappropriate conduct, should be reconsidered.”

It refers to the punishment of six young men who hired an exotic dancer during the senior trip to Boston on March 28 and 29. The incident, according to Superintendent Ken Coville, occurred at approximately 1 a.m.

The petition states “These 6 young men have been scarred for life. The education that they have learned from this incident is that the school administration isn’t fair and people aren’t treated equally.”

The board put the petition on its agenda for the May 11 meeting.

Sonja Johnson, an art teacher at Rangeley Lakes Regional School and chaperone for the trip, told the board: “I am the face that goes with that blame. I have loved and cared for your children and have put in countless hours for them.”

“My profession was put on the line,” said Johnson. “It puts in jeopardy my abilities as a teacher. This has made me question a lot of things about my place here.”

In a subsequent interview, Johnson said, “My goal was to make sure they (the students) are safe. I love to offer them these experiences away from home. I want to make sure we don’t take the focus off the problem – the students made poor choices.”

Coville said earlier that “The chaperones were not delinquent in anyway. If there was an error, it was on my part by placing basic trust in these students. The students acted inappropriately.”

In other business, Coville gave an update on pending bills in the Maine House and Senate.

Coville told the board he’s also renewed recruitment efforts for a school guidance counselor.

He explained that the School Committee’s return service agreement with teacher Johanna Colello is no longer valid due to changes in the certification requirements for the position.

The skilled maintenance position nomination was deferred due to “a question as to if the candidate can accept the position,” said Coville.

The committee granted a request from Dr. Chris Aylesworth for a one-year leave of absence. Aylesworth has accepted a position at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Va., as a one-year sabbatical replacement. At Ferrum, Aylesworth will teach human anatomy, biology, human health and disease and health and nutrition.

Coville told the committee, “In my years at Rangeley and before, I have yet to meet a finer teacher and mentor for students.”

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