Appleton Catholic high school fires principal for violating policy aimed at preventing sexual abuse

The principal of a catholic high school in Appleton was fired this month for violating a Diocese of Green Bay policy related to preventing sexual abuse of minors or at-risk individuals.

Mike Mauthe, longtime principal of the Xavier High School, was fired effective Nov. 14 after he was placed on administrative leave by the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System.

Mauthe was placed on leave after a complaint against him was filed with the Diocese of Green Bay’s Office of Safe Environment, which later determined that he violated the diocese’s “Our Promise to Protect” policy, according to a letter sent to parents Friday and obtained by WLUK-TV.

The policy is the diocese’s pledge to create an environment that protects minors and at-risk individuals from harm by complying with laws around the reporting of sexual abuse. It includes a nine-item list of recommended conduct for interactions with children.

It’s not clear what Mauthe did to violate the policy and Friday’s letter to parents did not detail specific allegations against him. According to the letter, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System also fired Superintendent John Ravizza for “failing to meet reporting requirements.”

“Because this is a personnel issue, we are not at liberty to share the specifics of the situation such as the contents of the complaint, victim identity, and details regarding the evidence,” wrote Katie Heim, interim president of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System. 

A spokesperson for the Appleton Police Department confirmed the department has opened an investigation into the situation, but declined further comment.

In a Nov. 14 letter to parents announcing Mauthe’s termination, obtained by several media outlets, Heim said the safety of students was the school system’s top priority and that counselors were made available.

“We understand that this news can be distressing, and we are committed to supporting you along with our students and staff,” Heim wrote.

Before the policy Mauthe violated was revealed by the school system, community members had started a petition to have him reinstated at Xavier High School. The petition drive received more than 600 signatures, but organizers stopped accepting signatures on Nov. 17 after Mauthe asked them to stop in a Facebook post.

In the post, Mauthe said that he is not a victim and acknowledged that he broke a policy, saying would accept the consequences for doing so.

“During my career, I did not always maintain the proper boundaries of communication,” Mauthe wrote. “That responsibility was mine. I need to be better, and I own my failures for any times that I’ve fallen short of who I strive to be.”

But he also said the “horrible things that come to mind when you read the release are things I would never do.” 

Mauthe had been the principal of Xavier High School in Appleton since 2014 after serving as principal of Lourdes Academy Middle and High School in Oshkosh, according to an archived webpage of his staff bio.

According to WLUK-TV, Mauthe had a job offer to work at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Neenah, but the offer was rescinded after the complaint was filed with the Diocese of Green Bay.

The Diocese of Green Bay provided a separate Nov. 22 letter to parents from the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System, but said no one would be available to speak on the “personnel matter.”

The letter said the school system is working with the diocese to address a “void in leadership” from the recent terminations and to rebuild community trust.

“We will work together to discern the best leadership model moving forward and will keep you apprised,” Heim wrote to parents. “We will be working in close partnership with school leaders to ensure their voices are heard and taken into consideration.”

Mauthe did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.