Board to discuss future of schools chief

CROMWELL — The leadership of the schools system has once again been called into question, with the Board of Education calling a special meeting for Wednesday morning to discuss the future of the both the superintendent and the assistant superintendent.

The early morning meeting at Town Hall could see the appointment of an interim superintendent — just two weeks after the board reinstated Superintendent John T. Maloney Jr.

In an email Monday morning addressed to “Cromwell Community members,” board Chairman Michael J. Camilleri said, “We anticipate the possibility of taking action regarding the performance and employment of the Superintendent of Schools and the Assistant Superintendent of Schools as well as the possible appointment of an interim Superintendent of Schools at that meeting.”

Maloney and Assistant Superintendent Krista Karch had been placed on paid administrative leave on Dec. 11 while the board investigated complaints that the two administrators had fostered “a climate of fear of hostility and retaliation.”

An anonymous letter sent to Board of Education members (but not Camilleri) said the climate “has led to a massive flight” of staff and teachers.

The letter also alleged Maloney and Karch were involved in an inappropriate personal relationship.

The board commissioned its law firm, Shipman & Goodwin, to conduct an investigation into the complaints and appointed high school Principal Fran DiFiore as interim superintendent.

On Jan. 24, the board reinstated Maloney. In a statement he read at that time, Camilleri said, “The investigation did not find evidence of an improper relationship” between the two.

The board did, however, “issue a formal written reprimand to be included in Mr. Maloney’s personnel file.” He returned to work on Jan. 29 and will be subject to a detailed evaluation of his performance by June 15.

Karch remained on paid leave.

In the anonymous letter, she was accused of “aggressive conduct and (an) unprofessional approach.”

In his Jan. 24 letter, Camilleri said the investigation “did not confirm improper harassment or bullying.”But he did say based on “the issues raised by this investigation and other past issues around culture and climate including concerns about appropriate and available forums for reporting concerns,” the board did agree to create a human resources director’s position in the school system and take other steps to foster greater transparency and accountability.

“We have not concluded certain aspects of the investigation and additional actions may be necessary based on those aspects. We expect to address Dr. Karch’s role in this investigation in the coming days,”

Camilleri said.

There matters sat until Feb. 4, when the board held a three-hour closed-door meeting. Karch and her attorneys met with the board for 30 minutes. The board adjourned without taking any action.

Camilleri said no future meetings where scheduled.

Then, at 9:02 a.m. Thursday, a board representative called the town manager’s office to reserve a small conference room in Town Hall for the Wednesday meeting. The board usually

meets in the high school library/media center.

Asked in an email Monday what changed in the intervening 58 hours from Monday to Thursday, Camilleri replied, “I will not be commenting on the agenda items for Wednesday’s meeting.”

A call to Maloney’s attorney was not immediately returned Monday.

An email to Karch’s lawyer was similarly not immediately answered.