SF. HELENS, Ore. — Days after news of bombshell allegations of student sexual abuse by two teachers in the St. Helens quit, the school board voted unanimously Friday night to place Superintendent Scot Stockwell on administrative leave.

Also Friday, the district announced that the principal of St. Helens, Katy Wagner, has been placed on administrative leave and board president Ryan Scholl has resigned.

“Plans are being developed to continue school operations in a safe manner. These decisions were made carefully and with a focus on transparency and accountability in our district. Our aim is to provide a safe and positive learning environment with clear steps for addressing concerns. among our students, families and community members,” the district said in the announcement.

School District of St. Helens has announced it will be closed from Thursday to Monday. It said it prioritized the safety of students and staff.

Stockwell did not attend Friday’s virtual board meeting for nearly 16 minutes.

“The voices of student, parent and community concerns were heard loud and clear at our last meeting,” Interim President Trinity Monahan said during the meeting. “Specific requests have been made about what plans are being made, who to hold accountable and how to understand certain details and decisions that have been made.”

On Tuesday, police officers in St. Helens announced that they had arrested a current and former high school teacher in St. Helens, being accused of sexual abuse against students. The charges came after a two-month investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at the school.

The current teacher has been identified as 46-year-old Eric Stearns. According to the district’s website, he teaches choir. Court documents show he was indicted on seven counts of sexual abuse.

Former teacher Mark Collins, 64, is also accused of inappropriately touching minors at the school. He was indicted on two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges during court appearances this week.

Students and parents gathered Friday night at The Village Inn, not far from the district offices to watch the virtual school board meeting. Dozens of students were outside holding signs.

“I’m glad everyone came out and we made great progress. The principal has been placed on administrative leave, but we’re hoping they’ll be fired instead of just on paid leave,” said Avlene Moore, a member of the St. Helens High School and organizer of a walkout and student protests. That’s ultimately our goal, just to fire them and get them off the school board. So we can start over and start those new policies and new rules so that students are safe for our schools.”

Marchella Shaefer, a teacher at Lewis & Clark Elementary School in the St. Helens, said he has worked there for 28 years.

“I knew about this good ole boys club the first year and they protect and hide a lot of things and it’s finally happening. I’m not going to lie, I was afraid to speak for a long time, and not anymore. You know, we have to protect our children,” she said.

A day after the bombshell allegations, hundreds of community members attended an explosive school district board meeting in St. Helens.

Parents called the district, telling the board they had lost trust in them to keep their children safe.

“I feel like if this was our first situation, maybe allowing the police to do the investigation, but the school district doesn’t have the best record,” said one community member.

The parents were particularly upset that the school did not place Stearns on administrative leave right when the investigation began.

One parent told the council: “You guys have willingly and knowingly put my daughter in danger.”

The district claimed police told them Stearns should not be placed on leave, which the police department denied.

Earlier this year, the St. Helens reached a $3.5 million settlement with a former student at St. Helens when she sued, claiming the district failed to protect her from a teacher who was a sexual danger.