TWO MORE NL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ON LEAVE

New London — The number of school employees placed on paid administrative leave because of allegations of inappropriate interactions with students continued to grow this week.

Winthrop STEM Elementary Magnet School Assistant Principal Shawn Brown and Paul Craig, a long-term substitute teacher at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, each were placed on leave based on complaints made to the district’s human resources office on May 21 and May 23. Both employees are barred from school grounds while on leave. Craig additionally was ordered not to have contact with students or staff.

The cases were reported to the Department of Children and Families for “further inquiry,” and a fact-finding hearing is expected to take place, according to letters to the employees from Director of Talent and Human Resources Taryn Bonner that were obtained by The Day.

The suspensions come even as the district continues to deal with the aftermath of the arrest of two school employees on sexual assault charges and a continuing police investigation. Several other employees are on leave based on allegations that have not yet been substantiated.