SOUTH HADLEY — Despite Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School administrators finding no wrongdoing by a middle school teacher, following a six-week investigation into sexual misconduct allegations that led to his removal from the classroom last fall, students concerned about his continued presence on campus staged a walkout demanding his termination Monday morning.

For senior Alicia Ricks, the civil disobedience of cutting classes was important to give voice to the continued worries for her younger peers.

“This is our opportunity to show our support, and that we believe them,” said Ricks, who helped organize the hour-long action where students were able to recount their experiences. “These kids are scared.”

“These students are absolutely terrified being in the classroom with this man,” said Grey Pouliot, another senior, adding that the call is for the teacher to be permanently removed from the school.

“This affects their ability to learn and exist in this school,” Pouliot said.

The walkout comes as the trustees for the charter school continue to defend how the situation was handled.

“The ongoing campaign by a small group of parents against a middle school teacher and the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School administration is concerning, particularly the encouragement of students to miss valuable education time,” the school’s board of trustees said in a statement released by its president Latrina Denson.

“PVPA is dedicated to thoroughly investigating all claims and allegations in line with established policies and procedures. In response to the allegations last October, PVPA immediately placed the teacher on leave and initiated an internal investigation. The review lasted six weeks and found no evidence of inappropriate behavior. Once the teacher returned, the school prioritized student safety and wellbeing by implementing ongoing monitoring in the classroom. Middle school counselors conducted check-ins and surveys with students, which yielded no concerns.

“We remain firmly dedicated to our core mission of providing students with a safe, supportive and challenging learning environment that empowers them through critical thinking and performing arts, and sets them up to succeed in college and beyond,” the statement continued.

A letter that went to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was signed by 17 families, providing extensive details outlining what they view as an insufficient school response, not following proper Title IX investigation procedures, and then poor handling of the teacher’s return by the administration and board of trustees.

In addition, at least one family has filed a complaint with the state agency’s Office of Civil Rights over the treatment of their daughter. That complaint states that the teacher touched the girl’s arm, leg, back and shoulder, rubbed her thigh and got into her personal space in the classroom over a one-month period last fall. When the girl told him to stop, he allegedly grew angry with her, according to the family.

Pfeiffer, a senior who goes by that mononym, alleges that there was not a legitimate or legal investigation because students were interviewed by school leaders without consent and parents were not allowed to be part of that.

“We organized this because we care about the community and what happens to the students here,” Pfeiffer said.

The walkout also was about getting heard. “We took it upon ourselves to do something about this, to take action and fix this community,” Pfeiffer said.

Pfeiffer said that three middle school students approached their older peers about traumas they have experienced, and “I have immense respect for them,” Pfeiffer said.

Six middle schoolers spoke at the rally and Pouliot said some high school students also got on the stage to talk about being uncomfortable. They were near the school’s main entrance for more than a hour, many wearing red and being handed red stickers reading “Protect PVPA Students” and also heart-shaped stickers.

The school property, though, was restricted at both entrances, with employees wearing yellow vests preventing anyone not affiliated with the school from accessing the grounds. For the hour-long duration of the rally, as people walked dogs along Mulligan and the edge of The Ledges golf course, chants such as “Protect PVPA Students” and “No Means No,” with occasional cheers and chants, could be heard in the distance.

Prior to the walkout, the Gazette obtained a letter sent to teachers by Head of School Brent Nielsen that was critical of those who were involved in the walkout. Nielsen wrote that “while students continue to express raised anxiety and other concerns related to the recent news articles and ongoing talk about the allegations, no student has reported any inappropriate behavior or harassment from the individual accused in this conduct.”

Ricks said she is concerned that the school hasn’t offered the mental health support needed to affected students, and that it is disheartening to not see the students believed.

“Why would these kids lie? What do they get out of this?” said Ricks, who has been part of the community for almost a decade. “I’ve never seen a walkout with this much support, this much energy.”

The walkout is legal disobedience for the students, based on the student handbook, but Pouliot said the likelihood is they will only be marked absent from the classes.

Whether or not the teacher is fired, Pfeiffer said he is confident that the students have already had an impact and raised awareness, in advance of the trustees meeting on Tuesday night, and the need to continue to pushback on the administration and its response.

“The first step is this, the walkout of students, but it’s not going to be the last step,” Pfeiffer said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.