The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
2 school officials put on leave
Allegedly engaged in ‘inappropriate relationship’
CROMWELL — Both the superintendent and assistant superintendent of schools have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into possible misconduct involving the two officials.
Schools head John T. Maloney, who has served as the school district’s chief since April 2017, has been a popular figure in both the school community and town at large. Assistant Superintendent Krista Karch worked for the Portland school system until she moved over to Cromwell last year.
The Board of Education took action Tuesday morning following a 75-minute closed-door session at Town Hall. The panel elevated Cromwell High School Principal Fran DiFiore to serve as interim superintendent while the board’s law firm, Hartfordbased Shipman & Goodwin, conducts the investigation.
Board Chairman Michael Camilleri said he expects the investigation to be completed before the Christmas holiday.
Maloney, the married father of four children, worked his way up from assistant principal to principal at the high school, and then assistant superintendent, before being named to the schools chief post in April 2017.
The education board acted after members received an anonymous letter — and DVD copy of a surveillance video — alleging an “inappropriate relationship” between the two school leaders. The letter also said there has been “a massive flight from the district by teachers because of a constant lack of trust, a downturn of climate, and fear of hostility and retaliation.”
In particular, the letter said numerous complaints and concerns have been brought forward “about (Karch’s) aggressive conduct and unprofessional approach.” The letter says teachers were leaving the district “because of their unhappiness, stress, and tiredness from a harassing work environment and toxic climate created by Superintendent Maloney and Assistant Superintendent Karch.”
Neither Maloney nor Karch attended the meeting Tuesday or were immediately available for comment.
However, during the afternoon, attorneys for both Maloney and Karch responded with strongly worded statements on behalf of their respective clients.
Lawyers for the two said the more salacious claims made against their clients “false” and “baseless.”
Separately, both Maloney and Karch said their efforts were focused on, as Maloney said, “to ensure that students receive the quality education they are entitled to.”
Both he and Karch also pledged to work to put this issue behind them and “get back to the work of building a stronger school system.”
Maloney’s statement was released in the late afternoon by Rocky Hill attorney Brian A. Doyle. In it, Boyle said, the personal accusation against Maloney is false and fabricated.
“Doyle said Maloney denied the accusation made against him, but welcomes the accusation that he has changed the culture of the Cromwell Public Schools.”
“The ‘good old days’ that the anonymous accuser wishes to return to may benefit some employee. But they failed children and have led Cromwell to become one of the lowest performing school districts in Connecticut.
“Under the direction of the Board of Education, Superintendent Maloney is working diligently to transform the school system.”
Maloney looks forward to putting this (issue) behind him, so that he can get back to the work of building a stronger school system that prepares the students of this community for their future.”
Middletown attorney Richard Sheely, who said he represents Karch, issued a statement on her behalf Tuesday afternoon, in which he called the charges against her and Maloney “baseless.”
“As of today, Dr. Karch has been notified by the Board of Education that she has been placed on paid administrative leave while anonymous and baseless allegations against her and the Superintendent, John Maloney, are investigated by the board,” Sheely said.
“Dr. Karch understands that the Board of Education must conduct an investigation, and she will fully cooperate to bring the investigation to swift conclusion so that she may get back to work pursuing the best educational resources and opportunities for Cromwell students,” he added.
Sheely said Karch “ardently denies any allegation of misconduct and asserts that she has consistently and without fail worked to promote the best interests of the children of the town.
“She remains committed to that goal despite the baseless allegation of an unnamed party with an unknown agenda. Dr. Karch looks forward to the results of the investigation undertaken by the town,” Sheely concluded.