ST. HELENS, Ore. — A communications consultant brought on to help navigate the St. Helens School District through a crisis over teacher sex abuse allegations has stepped down after members of the community discovered that he'd recently been convicted of a crime.
Kelsey Soltysiak at the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) said the contract with Tom DeLapp had been initiated when the crisis began. She said he'd come highly recommended from several Oregon school districts but couldn't confirm if NWRESD had worked with him before.
DeLapp was not subject to a background check, she said, which is usually reserved for people who work directly with children. DeLapp was doing PR work remotely for the district.
Soltysiak will not say if that policy will change going forward.
California court records show that DeLapp was arraigned on felony embezzlement charges in February 2024 and convicted in July.
In a letter to both the St. Helens School District and NWRESD sent Monday, DeLapp said it was in their best interest that he step down as communications advisor.
"My personal indiscretion involving financial mismanagement in our local school foundation dating back to 2019-2021 has become an unfortunate distraction," he wrote. "I am resolving this issue with full restitution planned by March 2025. My continued presence will draw too much negative publicity and undercut the credibility of your efforts to improve the reputation of and trust in the school district."
DeLapp added that he would finish out the week preparing materials for the district's board meeting on Wednesday and listening sessions next week, but he would not appear for a news media availability session on Friday.
"Of course, if you have questions or need some pro bono advice moving forward, just give me a call or text. I have appreciated the opportunity to work with you all and hope that our paths might cross in the future," he concluded.
In the space of a month, the St. Helens School District has been turned upside down. On Nov. 11, the local police department announced that they'd arrested one current and one former teacher at St. Helens High School on sex abuse charges.
The investigation and resulting uproar from the community resulted in the toppling of the school board chair, superintendent and principle, while state and local investigations came to include additional teachers. St. Helens High School Principal Dr. Katy Wagner was later charged with criminal mistreatment and official misconduct for allegedly failing to report the abuse allegations.
Last week, the district annoounced that it had launched an internal investigation led by the new acting superintendent. DeLapp handled questions from reporters.