Norwich School Board provides update on legal process related to superintendent's investigation

October 10, 2024 5:54 p.m. • Last updated: October 10, 2024 5:54 p.m.

Norwich ― The Board of Education met in executive session Tuesday to provide an update on the legal proceedings related to an investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow and Assistant Superintendent Tamara Gloster.

The update came 13 months after the pair were placed on paid leave amid allegations they fostered a toxic work culture of fear and intimidation.

School board President Mark Kulos said the board met behind closed doors for about a half-hour with board attorney Peter J. Maher of the law firm Shipman & Goodwin to receive legal advice. Kulos said no action had been taken and he could not release any further information from the executive session.

Asked about the deadline for receiving a report from Hartford attorney Kyle McClain, who was hired last September to lead the investigation, Kulos said the board was working with the board’s attorney on next steps. McClain was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, Kulos said.

The board met a week earlier for nearly three hours in executive session to discuss the investigation with board attorneys Maher and Morgan P. Rueckert of Shipman & Goodwin. McClain did not attend this session.

Some board members expressed frustration that McClain’s investigation was taking so long, forcing the board to pay the salaries of Stringfellow and Gloster, as well as the salaries of interim Superintendent Susan Lessard, who was director of John B. Stanton Elementary School, and an hourly rate for Acting Assistant Superintendent Jamie Bender, retired director of student services.

In September 2023, the board placed Stringfellow on paid leave, pending an investigation, then also placed Gloster on paid leave the following week. The investigation focuses on allegations that they fostered a toxic work environment based on fear and intimidation.

In January, the board expanded the investigation to include any other issues that might arise.

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