In a significant turn of events for the St. Helens School District, Tom DeLapp, a respected communications adviser, has resigned following his arrest for embezzlement from an educational nonprofit. His departure comes amid a sex abuse scandal that has already placed the district under intense scrutiny. Initially, the district had hoped to utilize DeLapp's expertise to manage the fallout from the scandal, but his legal issues prompted a reassessment of their crisis management strategy. A statement from the district indicated that DeLapp's continued presence could further damage its reputation and efforts to regain public trust.

Additionally, the district has placed ten staff members on leave as investigations into sexual misconduct are ongoing. This situation marks a critical juncture for the St. Helens School District as it seeks to restore confidence and credibility within the community, with stakeholders closely monitoring the developments surrounding both the embezzlement allegations and the sex abuse scandal.