5 NFA staffers tied to probes still on paid leave

Their status remains unresolved as school’s academic year ends

Norwich — The school year at Norwich Free Academy has ended, but the status of five staff members placed on paid administrative leave at various points during the 2018-19 school year remains unresolved.

“There is no news to report regarding the status of the NFA employees listed who are on a paid leave of absence,” NFA spokesman Geoff Serra wrote in an email response to a Freedom of Information request by The Day.

The newspaper had requested the status of employment of the five NFA staffers — including whether they had been reinstated, resigned, retired, terminated or whether other disciplinary action had been taken.

NFA officials have declined to comment on their cases, calling them personnel matters. All five remain listed in their current positions in the staff directory on the NFA website, including Director of Campus Safety Kevin Rodino, who was arrested in February by Norwich police.

Rodino faces several criminal charges in connection with the school’s response to allegations that then-athletic coach Anthony Facchini had engaged in sexual relations with two students in 2017 and 2018.

Facchini was fired in July 2018 after Norwich police launched its investigation into the second allegation, and he was charged with two counts of sexual assault on Sept. 12.

Rodino appeared in Norwich Superior Court Friday and applied for accelerated rehabilitation that could clear his record if he meets all court-ordered conditions. He is scheduled to return to court July 19 to learn whether he is eligible for the program.