Montville — For several hours on Thursday a group of students protested the administration's handling of allegations of sexual misconduct by teachers, carrying signs that read "Stop Hiding Pedophiles" and "Justice for the Silenced."

The protest, near the entrance to the high school's entrance, comes a week after teacher and head football coach Tanner Grove was placed on paid leave while being investigated by police and the state Department of Children and Families for alleged misconduct with a 14-year-old girl.

"I've never been more uncomfortable in a classroom than with Mr. Grove," said Mackenzie Bourdan, a student at the school, to other protesters as they gathered around her. "We have every right to feel safe at school."

The students proceeded to chant: "Get him out! Get him out!"

In a statement, Superintendent Laurie Pallin said 18 students left the building to engage in a demonstration at 9 a.m.

Students who walked out of the school for the protest exited the school building from the back entrance. Several students said Principal Heather Sangermano and Assistant Principal Robert Alves were blocking the front entrance. They also reported being told by school administration that they were being suspended for walking out during school hours.

"No doors were blocked to prevent them from leaving, and supervision was in place to ensure safety of all students. A police presence was provided all day," said Pallin in the statement. "The students who left did not return; their parents were notified of their participation in the walk-out and asked to provide them with rides home."

Pallin declined to say whether the students were suspended and for how long. She said consequences were not yet discussed with the families, and student discipline is confidential so she is unable to provide that information.

Two parents were also at the protest, one of them the mother of the girl who said she reported Grove for alleged sexual misconduct to the administration on Sept. 30. The mother was with her two daughters, who are no longer students at the school after she withdrew them on Tuesday.

"Anyone should be able to protest peacefully," she said, adding she was concerned about the possible suspension and the police presence on campus as she arrived in the morning.

The mother said her daughter was happy with the support she received from the protesters and passerbys.

People driving past the protest honked in support, however some made obscene gestures.

Multiple students at the protest said they saw Grove look at girls or touch them in class inappropriately.

One student, a junior, expressed anger Thursday and said the previous administration failed to report the "fight club" in 2018, referring to classroom fights that were supervised by a substitute teacher.

"It's a different administration and they are covering it up again," he said. "Every single administration is corrupt."