Brien McMahon probe grows
Families left with questions of transparency
NORWALK — As the district and state continue their inquiries into an unspecified personnel matter at Brien McMahon High School, many families are left to wonder what has caused the absence of three administrators as the school year wraps up.
The slow trickle of information about the school’s leadership has frustrated some parents and led to calls for greater transparency around personnel investigations. Others have expressed concern that the abrupt leadership changes could pose challenges for the upcoming end of the school year.
Parent Sarah Benson Waters said she is thankful that Schools Superintendent Alexandra Estrella addressed some rumors floating around about the investigation, but hopes to see the situation cleared up quickly.
“I’m just ready to have things resolved ASAP. And I’d prefer not to have things blown out of proportion,” she said this week, adding, “The only thing I can say is that I wish whatever the issue is could be resolved in a less disruptive way, for all parties involved.”
Few details about the probe have been released publicly. But the state inquiry into “issues of concern” involving an educator comes on the heels of the decision by the local school district to place three Brien McMahon administrators on leave to address a personnel matter, including Principal Scott Hurwitz.
Peter Yazbak, a spokesperson for the state Department of Education, said department investigations are generally opened when an educator or administrator is suspected of misconduct by local school officials or law enforcement.
“At that point, we’d initiate an investigation to determine if there are
possible licensure actions that need to be taken,” Yazbak said.
The suspected misconduct does not necessarily have to include allegations of criminal behavior. The offense could be as simple as a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility for Teachers, which sets the stands for how school employees are supposed to behave, he said.
Among other things, the code bars teachers and administrators from exploiting educational institutions for personal gain, lying about their professional qualifications and engaging in conduct which would put students at risk.
“Consistent with applicable law, the Code of Professional Responsibility for Teachers shall serve as a basis for decisions on issues pertaining to licensure and employment,” the code states. “It shall apply to all teachers licensed by or individuals seeking licensure from the State of Connecticut.”
Yazbak did not disclose the allegation at the center of the state investigation, but he confirmed state officials are not looking into allegations of sexual misconduct.
In one of her few public remarks about the Brien McMahon situation, Estrella said last month that a separate investigation into the three administrators that is being run by the school district was not tied to sexual impropriety.
Lt. Joseph Dinho, a spokesperson for the Norwalk Police Department, said police have not been notified of any issue at the school that would result in a criminal investigation.
District officials have declined to discuss how the school system conducts internal investigations into employees, but they have stressed that Hurwitz, as well as Barbara Wood and Qadir Abdus-Salaam — two assistant principals who were also placed on leave in April — have not been fired or disciplined.
“As you may know, we consider personnel matters to be confidential, and we have no further comment on this matter at this time,” Estrella told parents in an April 16 email. “However, we are working to resolve this matter promptly.”
The news of the state investigation came as a surprise to the city. Brenda Wilcox Williams, a spokesperson for the district, said on Friday the school system was not aware of the state’s probe. Mayor Harry Rilling similarly said he had not been informed of the inquiry.