The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
School board seeks investigators
Plan is for independent look at harassment complaints, officials say
MIDDLETOWN — The Board of Education has solicited proposals from firms to conduct an investigation into allegations of harassment brought to light by unions representing district employees, a spokeswoman said.
Board of Education Director of Communications Jessie B. Lavorgna
said a firm could be hired as soon as next week.
During the public comment portion of a council meeting last Thursday, a joint statement about the allegations was read from USPEU Local 6457, AFSCME Local 466, the Middletown Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1381, and the Middletown Federation of Paraeducators, Local 3161. These represent more than 1,000 district employees.
In a preliminary fact-finding report, the city’s head of equal opportunity and diversity management outlines her conversations with four union leaders about 15 female school board employees’ grievances.
Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management Faith
Jackson said she found evidence of alleged “inappropriate” workplace treatment and conduct of “harassment, bullying, and intimidation” toward Board of Education personnel.
The school board granted Superintendent of Schools Michael T. Conner a leave of absence Monday under the FMLA, and Chief Academic Officer Alberto
Vázquez-Matos was named acting superintendent.
Lavorgna said a search is underway for person to conduct an independent investigation.
Board of Education Chairwoman Deborah Cain has solicited proposals from several potential investigative firms to look into the accusations , and expects to select a firm by early next week, Lavorgna said.
“We expect that the investiga
tors will begin their investigation promptly thereafter,” Lavorgna said.
Speaking on behalf of senior school board management, Lavorgna said “The district does not discuss confidential personnel matters or pending investigations.”
Jackson met with an UPSEU union representative, who said that they had been approached by unnamed employees on more than 30 occasions. They complained of a “hostile work environment for themselves and for other employees, including members of other bargaining units,” Jackson said.
Jackson said in her report that the city has no jurisdiction over the individuals involved in the creation of the alleged “hostile work environment,” but she investigated their statements after complaints came to light.
Jackson wrote, “My office considers issues of this nature in the workplace a serious matter.” As a standard practice, an internal investigation is conducted on complaints that are brought to the attention of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management unless it is deemed it should be addressed by some other source, she said.
During an exit interview, according to Jackson, an employee expressed that they felt the management style at the Board of Education “creates an unnecessary amount of stress,” there was an absence of communication or support, and that interactions with supervisors were “disrespectful and unprofessional.”
The worker eventually left the district.
The Press has a request into the city’s general counsel office for copies of the union grievances.
Conner’s spokeswoman, Anita Ford Saunders, said, “This (has) been a stressful time for his family.”
“Dr. Conner and his family look forward to the independent investigation initiated by the Board of Education,” she said.
Saunders alleged the report includes “secondand third-hand accounts from anonymous sources,” which “lack credibility” and shouldn’t be used to initiate an investigation.