Fessenden School official on leave amid sexual misconduct allegation

An administrator at the prestigious Fessenden School , a private school for boys in Newton, has been placed on leave and barred from campus amid a probe into a former student’s allegation of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1990s, the headmaster said Tuesday.

The allegations against Kenneth Howe, the school’s residential life director, were disclosed by Headmaster David B. Stettler in a letter to the Fessenden community. The message was obtained by the Globe.

Howe could not be reached for comment.

Stettler wrote that the Howe, who is also a former math teacher “categorically denies that any misconduct occurred.’’

Stettler wrote that school officials learned of the allegations in mid-December and promptly alerted law enforcement authorities. The school has cooperated with the police investigation, according to Stettler.

“We … recently have been informed that, while no finding has been made, the authorities’ investigation remains open,’’ he wrote. “We believe that the time has come to meet our obligation to share this news with you.’’

Stettler added that the school sought to balance multiple obligations in waiting to make a public disclosure.

Those included “a primary obligation to ensure the safety of our current students and our community; an obligation to be respectful of our former student and to take his allegation seriously; an obligation to support the authorities’ investigation and to do nothing that might impede it; an obligation to not prejudge a respected, long-time faculty member; and an obligation to be open and transparent with our community.’’

Anyone with information pertinent to the school’s independent review of the allegations is urged to contact attorney Kathy Weinman from the firm of Collora LLPat [email protected].

“Given that the well-being of our students is paramount, this investigation will continue, and Mr. Howe will remain off campus on administrative leave,’’ Stettler wrote.

The disclosure comes after a Globe Spotlight series revealed that at least 67 private schools in New England including Fessenden have faced accusations since 1991 that staffers sexually abused or harassed more than 200 students.

Stettler wrote in Tuesday’s note that Fessenden has “zero tolerance’’ for sexual misconduct and that a number of safeguards are in place to protect students, including extensive background checks for staff and workshops on respecting appropriate boundaries.

“Our personnel are trained to recognize the warning signs of unsafe relationships and to understand the legal requirements for mandated reporting of inappropriate behavior,’’ he wrote.