The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Report to school board finds claims of harassment credible
Former Middletown schools chief says he is ‘completely innocent’
MIDDLETOWN — The investigation into alleged workplace harassment by four top Board of Education central office leaders has concluded that the ex-superintendent “more likely than not” made “unwelcome” “romantic or sexual statements” and advances toward a senior administrator.
Former superintendent Michael Conner resigned March 3, citing fear for his family’s safety as a result of a “hate packet” he received from a former student’s relative that contained “death threats.”
Middletown police say the state’s attorney’s office found the writer’s action was not criminal. Hearst Connecticut Media is not releasing the name of the person as they haven’t been charged with a crime.
The probe was launched Nov. 1, when outside BOE counsel Shipman & Goodwin signed a contract with Thompson Hine to conduct the investigation. Results were presented orally to school board members March 30. The findings released by the school board does not identify the alleged victim of the “unwelcomed” advances.
On May 10, the board directed Shipman & Goodwin to provide a summary.
The board announced the investigation had concluded April 5.
Michael Conner
A spokeswoman for Conner released a statement Monday in reaction to the findings, which he called “spurious.”
“Let me be clear — I am unequivocally and completely innocent of the alleged accusations,” Conner said.
Commenting on the alleged sexual and romantic advances, which the former superintendent termed the “most serious allegation,” Conner pointed out the “more likely than not” wording.
“This is not a definitive charge, but another character-damaging insinuation based on a one-sided, anonymous, and I repeat, false accusation,” he wrote. “Most of the remaining charges against me were dismissed by the investigators outright.”
“Evidence was shared with investigators and the BOE that these false allegations were intentionally fabricated as part of a plan to remove me from the Office of the Superintendent. This evidence was ignored,” he said.
Investigators did not find
that Conner was “treated differently because of his race,” as he alleged; made hiring decisions based on a candidate's race, or engage in race/gender/age harassment, as well as other findings.
“The Middletown Board of Education has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on a law firm that took over five months to produce a baseless report while distracting the BOE and school staff from the task of handling students and schools in the critical post-pandemic period,” Conner said.
“Additionally, in November 2021, we were told that
the investigation would last 30 to 45 days. Instead, the Board of Education allowed an out-of-state law firm to open the investigation to further grievances (now, as it appears, mostly baseless) that were beyond the original scope of the false and anonymous allegations,” he added.
Conner also listed facts supporting how the school system made “significant quantitative and programmatic educational and equity progress.”
Other administrators
Chief of Administration Christine Bourne has been on administrative leave since January. Middletown schools Director of Communications Jessie Lavorgna declined to say if any actions will be taken against them as a result of the findings.
Bourne, the team concluded it was “more likely than not” that she engaged in unprofessional behavior toward workers, in “nepotism and retaliatory behavior toward several individuals,” and determined that Bourne did not “yell” at employees on a regular basis, along with other findings.
The investigators said it was “more likely than not” that Chief of School Operations and Communications Marco Gaylord knew about allegations against Conner by a senior administrator, which “he admittedly did not investigate.”
Gaylord has also been on administrative leave since January.
It also concluded that Gaylord did not regularly make “rude or insensitive” comments to employees, raised his voice at them, and otherwise engaged in unprofessional conduct, and “disregarded” state and federal guidelines governing food service and reimbursement protocols,as well as other findings.
The report “did not substantiate” allegations that Gaylord did not handle Title IX matters properly, but did conclude it was “more likely than not” he knew of them.
The report also concluded that Gaylord did not regularly make “rude or insensitive” comments to employees, raised his voice at them, and otherwise engaged in unprofessional conduct, as well as other findings.
As to the allegations about Acting Superintendent Alberto Vázquez Matos, the probe did not substantiate he “imposed a loyalty test” on employees as to Conner that went “against the district's interests.” It also found that allegations surrounding the alleged removal of employee job duties was not substantiated.
According to the report, Thompson Hine “substantiated separate and distinct instances of misconduct by three central office administrators. Although not always definitive, the findings of fact highlight areas of deficiency in the administration and operation of the school district which are generally consistent with many of the allegations presented to the board in the fall of 2021.
“In light of this information, the board will take corrective action, as appropriate,” Thompson Hine said.
Lavorgna declined to comment on the probe, saying the Board of Education does not comment on personnel matters.
Union reaction
“The summary confirms our long-standing concerns about toxic working conditions within the Middletown public school system,” the Middletown Union Coalition said in a reaction statement. “We are proud of our front-line union members who showed great courage in coming forward to participate in the investigation.
“Our union coalition intends to work with both the Board of Education and city leaders to prevent a repeat of the systemic problems that prompted the investigation. The Middletown school community — most of all our students — deserves no less,” it concluded.