Norwich school board grows impatient over status of superintendent investigation
May 15—NORWICH — School board members expressed frustration Tuesday that after eight months there has been no resolution to an investigation into allegations that Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow and Assistant Superintendent Tamara Gloster had created a toxic work environment.
The Board of Education placed Stringfellow and Gloster on paid leave last September, and in October, hired Hartford attorney Kyle McClain to investigate the allegations by teachers, staff and parents.
At the end of Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, board members asked Chairman Mark Kulos for an update on the investigation and when they could expect to receive a report. Kulos said he could not give details during an open meeting but said there is no time frame for resolving the issues, and the investigation is ongoing.
Kulos said the attorney has done more than 100 interviews, which are completed. He said the investigation is closer to the end than the beginning but could not give an end date.
"Anything that we do could potentially end up in court litigation," Kulos said.
He said the intertwined investigations of Stringfellow's and Gloster's alleged actions complicate the process.
Board members Heather Fowler and Christine DiStasio pressed Kulos about whether McClain was stringing the investigation along.
They were angered when school Business Administrator Robert Sirpenski reported that from March 28 through April 30, McClain had submitted an invoice for just two billable hours totaling $570.
"Two hours in a month?" Fowler said. "No wonder it's taking so long. People have been waiting eight months, and two billable hours in a month?"
Fowler called the lengthy investigation a slap in the face to the board, who continue to field questions from the public about he status of the investigation. Fowler said some people suspect the board is delaying the investigation to allow Stringfellow's contract to expire.
Kulos responded that the Norwich school officials have never conducted an investigation like this, and cautioned again that it must be done correctly.
According to the school finance office, McClain's firm, Zangari Cohn Cutherbertson Duhl & Grello P.C. has billed the school district a total of $34,651 through May 9 covering 120.9 billable hours for $34,456.50, plus $193.59 in expenses.
Kulos agreed to make a short statement during each board meeting on the status of the investigation, even if it's just to say it remains ongoing. He said he recognizes that the paid leave salaries for Stringfellow and Gloster along with the legal costs are a drain on the budget.
"We could use the money, but if we take any missteps, that money we're paying out now would be peanuts compared to a wrongful termination (lawsuit)," Kulos said.
