Former MES principal arrested in pupil assault case

Chuck Mills

Former Milton Elementary School Principal Chuck Mills, who abruptly resigned last month, has been arrested and charged in the assault of an MES student in May.

Mills, who was strongly backed by many community members and parents to become the new permanent principal at MES, faces an arraignment in the case in Rochester District Court later this month.

In court filings obtained by The Lebanon Voice, it is alleged that Mills was trying to quiet down students in the cafeteria at lunchtime on May 21, and made a “quiet” sign. Allegedly he then “dope slapped” a male student who hadn't stopped, causing either his head or the head of another student standing next to him to hit the wall. 

The affidavit states that the male student who was “dope slapped” couldn’t remember if his head hit off the wall, but a second student standing next to him did remember his head hitting.

Mills, the affidavit states, had made the “silent star” signal prior to the incident, a sign that asks all students to be quiet, but the student who was hit had his back to Mills and didn’t see the signal.

A paraprofessional witnessed the incident as well as at least one other student who said they could hear the impact of Mills’ hand on the first student’s skull.

A dope slap is defined in urbandictionary.com as “a light 'whappp' to the back of the head, done with an open palm in an upward motion.”

The silent star was a well-known sign used by teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators at MES this year as a silent plea for quiet amid a noisy classroom or cafeteria.

Mills, 53, of Henniker, and named as "Charles" in the affidavit, is charged with simple assault, a Class B misdemeanor.

According to the affidavit, he admitted to “dope slapping” the child, but didn’t mean to hurt him.

The former principal had formerly been lauded for his outreach to the community and his anti-bullying efforts at the school this past year.

He was hired as interim principal last fall after Polly Golden abruptly resigned to take a job with the Manchester School System shortly after the school year began.

He had been among a group of several candidates to become the permanent MES principal, but was initially passed over in May for a Dover elementary school principal, Dustin Gray, who later turned down the job.

Mills was placed back among a pool of candidates and some community members continued their drive using petitions and a Facebook page urging that the interim principal be hired permanently.

Then on June 12 the Milton School Board accepted Mills resignation before the end of the school year.

His arrest warrant was executed five days later on June 17.

In New Hampshire, a Class B misdemeanor can result in fines and probation but no jail time.

Newly installed SAU #64 Schools Chief Michael Tursi said he could not comment on the matter.

Messages sent to Mills’ personal email account were not immediately returned.