Thursday night the Suffield Board of Education met for the first time since news broke of an investigation into allegations that school administrators and members of senior leadership of the Suffield Public School District, including the superintendent, failed to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the state Department of Children and Families.
After three and a half hours, the Suffield Board of Education ended its executive session.
The special meeting took place just days after police said they got a call from the Department of Children and Families about an incident at the school back in May that was allegedly brought to the administration and senior school leadership, but never reported to DCF.
By state law, school employees are mandated reporters.
“Simply put I think there needs to be a change,” said Suffield parent David Messenger.
Messenger started a petition on Sunday stating no confidence in the superintendent. So far more than 500 people have signed it.
“They don't want to move forward with this current superintendent,” Messenger said.
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Parent Jen bombard did not sign that petition, saying that while she’s concerned about the allegations, she wants board members to wait until the investigation is complete before acting.
“I felt like she deserved due process and a removal without that due process I do feel puts Suffield in a bad light,” Bombard said.
Law enforcement sources said the incident in question happened at the high school. A source told NBC Connecticut it involves a conversation between a student and a school staff member about pornography.
Earlier this week Superintendent Karen Berasi released a statement saying in part,” I’m absolutely confidence that when this investigation is competed it will verify that there was no wrongdoing of any sort.”
At Thursday’s meeting there was no action taken and no comment given. But earlier in the week, the board released a statement saying “should we find after an investigation that any employee has failed to adhere to his or her obligations as a mandated reporter, we will take all appropriate action to hold the responsible employees accountable and keep our students safe.”
The Board of Education will have its regularly scheduled meeting Monday.
