MDI school investigation closed> Query involved alleged misconduct of personnel

BAR HARBOR — An investigation into alleged misconduct of school personnel on a trip to southern Maine in March has been closed and the matter is resolved, Union 98 Superintendent Howard Colter said Tuesday.

Colter said he presented his findings to the Bar Harbor School Committee on Monday night and that no further action would be taken.

The investigation centers on the alleged misbehavior of an unnamed number of school personnel during an overnight trip to Standish with junior and senior high school students for a jazz festival.

On Tuesday, Colter declined to release specifics on how many staff members were investigated, for what, and whether any were reprimanded. In a previous interview, Colter said he had narrowed his investigation to one teacher.

While he would not comment on whether the use of alcohol was being investigated, Union 98 will review its alcohol policy as a result of the probe, the superintendent said.

“We want to take corrective measures to make sure that people understand the intent [of the policy] and how it will be enforced in the future,” Colter said.

In an incident officials said was unrelated to the investigation of school personnel, several students were suspended for drinking alcohol on the trip.

The Mount Desert Island High School band came in first in its division at the festival, and three elementary schools took the top three places in their divisions.