A recommendation to invite the NAACP to speak to school officials and staff was raised during discussion of “Goals for the 2024-2025 School Year” at the August 28 meeting of the Board of Education by member Diane Gagnon. Other members appeared receptive to the suggestion. “We’ve lost two people of color in the last two years”, Gagnon said, alluding to Administrative Assistant Yvonne Bowen who was dismissed in 2022, and the recent resignation of head custodian, Armin Harris.
A second complaint of discrimination has also been filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). The first was resolved with a financial settlement for Bowen to include retroactive unemployment compensation and $20,000 from the school’s liability insurance. This second complaint was filed in connection with a discrimination grievance Harris previously submitted to school officials.
The grievance, filed on September 22, 2023 was the result of an incident which occurred at the school on September 8 when Harris, who was escorting a vendor into the building, was reportedly assaulted with “vulgarities and threats” by a parent in the parking lot after Harris, per policy, approached what appeared to be a suspicious vehicle, identifying himself and his role in the school. Per policy, Harris immediately returned to the building and reported the encounter to the administration.
The basis of the grievance was the subsequent handling of the incident by Principal Patrice Merendina and Interim Superintendent Valerie Bunneau, notably failure to follow policy and report it to the police. At Harris’ insistence, the police were subsequently contacted on September 11, but the report was not available to the complainant or the newspaper as the name of a minor child was divulged.
Harris also took exception with two of the remedies the administration imposed at the time: that Harris not be seen in the foyer or in front of the building between 8:45 and 10:15, when the parent involved was expected to drop off and pick up the student; and that Harris be required to wear a lanyard while on school premises, though no other staff at the time was directed to do so. “It is with hope that bringing this grievance can resolve and return my workplace to a happy place for me as it once was,” the complaint concluded.
In a correspondence dated December 21, 2023, Superintendent Samantha Sarli informed Harris that the investigation by the school’s legal firm was complete and that while the “investigators substantiated some of your allegations, specifically that Ms. Merendina engaged in certain inappropriate conduct towards you at times”, the evidence did not suggest that the alleged discrimination “was based on your color”, and concluded that the school’s non-discrimination policy was, therefore, not violated.
As of June, 2024 approximately $20,000 had been spent on legal counsel to deal with the issue, though the board’s policies and procedures stipulate that the Superintendent will “resolve the complaint, negotiate a long-term solution, or refer the matter to the Board of Education for consideration”. The policy’s timeline also stipulates that the superintendent resolve the complaint within twenty days of its filing, or refer it to the board. In this case, the board was not apprised until May 22, 2024, when an executive session was called to “discuss a discrimination complaint”; and invoices from the legal firm reveal that the investigation was conducted in October, November and December. A Freedom of Information request for expenses from June to the present, submitted on August 9, 2024 is expected to be answered on September 6.
In what he characterized as a “constructive discharge”, Harris, who has worked for the district since 2019, submitted a letter of resignation which board member Juan Arriola distributed at the meeting; however, Chairman Rose Bisson advised members to refrain from reading the letter until receiving direction from the board’s attorney as Harris had not delivered it to the board in person, though Principal Merendina announced receipt of the letter. A review of the last several years of meetings reveals that letters of resignation have been delivered to school administrators and subsequently accepted at board meetings. The following day, Harris emailed the letter of resignation along with another extending “apologies for not appearing in person at last night’s Board of Education meeting”, explaining that “under the advice of my doctor, I asked Juan Arriola to distribute my letter of resignation for me”, and asking “Mr. Arriola to forward this message to all school officials to eliminate any question as to my intent and any legal costs in addition to what has already been spent.” Chairman Bisson issued a second directive informing members to refrain from reading either correspondence until the board’s attorney provided legal advice. No further directive has been issued, however, both letters were sent to the CHRO, the NAACP, the First Selectman, an attorney, and the town newspaper.
The letter of resignation reiterated the items listed in the initial grievance, as well as examples of being subjected to conduct Harris described as “embarrassing” and “demeaning”. The letter also expressed his remorse, first and foremost, in resigning from the school where he “looked forward to everyday life there, building rapport with the staff and the children who called me ‘Mr. Armin’, expressing their gratitude with small gifts of candy, drawings and many, many thank you notes,” Harris wrote. “Those small gestures made every day a great day!”
The board’s meeting to discuss goals for 2024-2025 is scheduled for September 19.