November 2019
 
Dear Lansing School Board Trustees,
 
We, the undersigned, are calling on you to NOT hire Dr. Mark Coscarella as Lansing Schools’ next superintendent due to resurfaced allegations of him sexually harassing a student intern and allowing the Holt baseball team to watch pornography during a team trip (LSJ article 10/28/19).

Dr. Coscarella, currently the acting superintendent for the Lansing School District and apparent front-runner for the superintendent position, was hired by the District in 2014 and tasked with heading the Title IX Office in 2016. However, Dr. Coscarella was accused in 2002 by a former student intern of making romantic advances, locking her in his first-grade classroom, closing the blinds, stripping down to his underwear, and gyrating next to her while encouraging her to strip as well. Also, Dr. Coscarella resigned from Holt Schools in 2002 after being accused of allowing the boy’s baseball team to watch pornographic content during a team trip. Some members even claimed Dr. Coscarella shared the video with the players.

We believe you shouldn’t hire Dr. Coscarella as superintendent for at least three good reasons:

1) False Reports of Sexual Harassment are Rare. Board Trustees’ recent statements asserting that the allegations against Dr. Coscarella were “unsubstantiated” betrays a lack of understanding of claims of sexual harassment and assault. Extensive research shows that false reports of sexual violence are no more frequent than any other crime, approximately at a rate of four to six percent (see Kelly 2010; Lisak et al. 2010). The overwhelming majority of false reports do not name alleged perpetrators, but instead, provide vague descriptions of the offenders. In contrast, Ms. Sterle identified Dr. Coscarella and provided specific details about the event. Some board members appear to be treating her claims as “false reports” when it is much more likely that they are accurate. It is prudent to ask: why would another teacher invent such a thorough narrative about Dr. Coscarella’s actions and be willing to come forward so many years later, reliving her trauma? Ms. Sterle is risking high reputational costs for coming forward with nothing to gain. Dismissing her claims revictimizes Ms. Sterle and all other victims that have ever sought to be believed and heard.  

We understand that many Board members know and have worked with Dr. Coscarella for years. Given your interactions with him, you may find it hard to believe that he is capable of what he has been accused of. However, even good educators and administrators can be perpetrators of sexual misconduct. Research shows that cognitive dissonance often interferes with our ability to comprehend that a person who we believe to be kind and talented is capable of committing these offenses (Whiting et al. 2019). Not to put too fine a point on it, but Larry Nassar was an excellent doctor and was routinely lauded for his generosity, self-sacrifice, and commitment to others. Much like many at MSU failed to believe the Nassar victims, you run the risk of making a fateful mistake if you do not proceed with extreme caution.

2) Lansing Kids Deserve the Best Candidate; Not Merely the Candidate that Avoided Criminal Charges. The Board also appears to dismiss these allegations because Dr. Coscarella was not criminally charged. While Prosecutor Dunnings did not file charges, his lack of action does not undermine the integrity of these claims, especially considering Mr. Dunnings’ malfeasance in similar matters. The high criminal standard of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” is meant to protect innocent people from prison, not to prevent employees from being denied a promotion. The Board should not settle on a candidate because he couldn’t be proven guilty, but rather search for the best person to run Lansing Schools—a person free of such allegations.

3) Hiring Coscarella Creates an Unnecessary Risk. The Board should also consider the potential civil liability with hiring someone in such a crucial position that has been accused of these severe offenses. It was already irresponsible for the District to hire Dr. Coscarella. Still worse, the District tasked him with heading the Title IX Office in 2016. It is disappointing that any employee with these accusations in his background oversaw investigating claims of sexual harassment and assault, interviewing vulnerable victims and witnesses, reviewing evidence, and liaising with law enforcement officers. Lansing Schools already struggle to pay for teachers, staff, and necessary supplies. The District cannot afford any lawsuit that might emerge as a result of Dr. Coscarella’s past conduct or to his potential indifference to future similar claims. The Board should be aware that research shows that perpetrators of these types of offenses are often serial offenders (Campbell et al. 2019). The District should not take this risk!  

We support Lansing Schools and care deeply about the safety of its students and staff. While we applaud the Board’s recent decision to hire a third-party to investigate these allegations, such an investigation is unlikely to turn up any new evidence. In addition, Dr. Coscarella should be interviewed by the Board and community about these allegations. Nevertheless, any lack of new evidence does not necessarily undermine the veracity of these claims. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the Board has more than enough information to conclude that Dr. Coscarella cannot be the best person for the job. Surely, there are multiple internal and external candidates who could lead the District to new horizons. With Dr. Coscarella at the head, we do not believe Lansing Schools will establish a culture or environment that will keep our children safe, heard, and respected. We have elected you, as trustees, to represent Lansing’s future, and now we call on you to choose a better candidate!  

With grave concern,