Norwich acting superintendent's contract extended through June: what we know

More time is needed as an investigation takes place at Norwich Public Schools.

The Norwich Board of Education decided Tuesday to extend the contracts of Acting Superintendent Susan Lessard and Acting Assistant Superintendent Jamie Bender through June 30. This is the second contract extension that has been made since they assumed their roles in September.

Lessard and Bender assumed their acting positions after Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow and Assistant Superintendent Tamara Gloster were placed on paid leave in September.

Board Chair Mark Kulos told those in attendance that there was nothing to report related to the Stringfellow and Gloster investigation. The investigation is still ongoing, and the district will be meeting with the board’s legal representatives, Shipman and Goodwin, and Stringfellow and Gloster and their attorneys in April, he said.

Kulos is expecting a report from Attorney Kyle McClaine in April, but that could be later, he said.

While concerns about Stringfellow existed prior to the beginning of the school year, the Connecticut Educator’s Association, the state teacher union, surveyed Norwich Public Schools teachers on the climate in the schools. Results showed 95% of staff feared retaliation if they spoke up about issues, and 89% of Norwich teachers stated their job depends on remaining silent on the issues, the CEA stated in an Aug. 1 post.

The Norwich Board of Education first held a meeting concerning Stringfellow on Sept. 12, but the only result was an expansion of the culture investigation in the district. The Board placed Stringfellow on paid leave Sept. 18. Lessard was named acting superintendent the same night.

Gloster was placed on leave Sept. 25, and Bender was named acting assistant superintendent Sept. 27.

An investigation into Lessard was also discussed at the board meeting Tuesday. The complainant was Principal Rayna Northcutt of Teachers’ Memorial Global Studies Magnet Middle School. The board discussed the matter in executive session and found no wrongdoing, Kulos said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Lessard and Bender's contracts with NPS extended again through June