The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Mayor: Superintendent granted leave
Request follows council call for investigation into conduct on school board
MIDDLETOWN— Superintendent of Schools Michael T. Conner Monday asked for and was granted a leave of absence, according to Mayor Ben Florsheim.
The request came three days after Florsheim and the city Common Council called for an investigation into allegations against unspecified persons “regarding conduct at the Middletown Board of Education” after unions representing school employees asked for city assistance in dealing with allegations of “harassment, intimidation and retaliation.”
In a release from the district spokesperson late Monday, it was confirmed that the board passed this: “The Board acknowledges that the Superintendent of Schools has requested a leave of absence, effective immediately. In light of the Superintendent’s request for an immediate leave of absence, the Board authorizes Dr. Vasquez to review and grant the Superintendent’s request leave of absence, and assume the duties of the Superintendent while the Superintendent is unavailable due to leave status, effective immediately and continuing until the earlier of 1) a Board vote to permit the Superintendent to return to duty or 2) the Board’s appointment of another individual to serve as Acting Superintendent of Schools. During the period of the
Superintendent’s leave, the Superintendent is not authorized to act on behalf of the Middletown Board of Education or the Middletown Public Schools.”
During the public comment portion of a meeting last Thursday, a joint statement 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 unions represent over 1,000 employees of the Middletown Public Schools district.
The statement, read by USPEU Local 6457 President Ann Gregg, expressed that “numerous past and present members have come to us with serious concerns about repeated harassment, intimidation and retaliation by members of Central Office senior management.” The statement did not name any person and attempts to reach Gregg for clarification have been unsuccessful.
Gregg said that night that because the issues are not being correctly dealt with internally, they have now requested assistance from the city.
“We are coming to you as our elected officials and asking for your help,” Gregg said.
She said that members do not feel safe going through the channels provided by the BOE because when they do speak up they are “often discredited.”
Statements from 15 anonymous former employees were also sent to council members.
Gregg requested an “independent, fair and impartial investigation” into the allegations.
Florsheim responded at the meeting by acknowledging the seriousness of the issue and promised to follow up. On Friday morning, he issued a joint statement with Council Majority Leader Eugene P. Nocera and Council Minority Leader Philip J. Pessina urging the BOE to make sure such an investigation is carried out.
“The allegations we received about conduct at Middletown Public Schools are deeply upsetting and totally inconsistent with Middletown’s values—as a city and as a school system,” the statement read. “They warrant a full, fair, and independent investigation as to their veracity.”
BOE Chairwoman Deborah Cain issued a statement in response to the allegations as well, saying that the board would be meeting to discuss the allegations.
“The board takes seriously its responsibility to review and respond to these allegations and the board will be meeting on Monday evening to discuss the matter further,” Cain said.
Emails and phone messages to Cain Monday were not returned by press time. Conner was unable to be reached by phone.