A week after a threat was found written on a bathroom stall at Derby Middle School, the district superintendent announced an “interim change in the administration” at the school.
Greg Gaillard, the Derby High School principal, will be “providing oversight” at Derby Middle School across the street on Nutmeg Avenue, according to a message sent to parents.
Martin Pascale, the assistant principal at Derby High School, is also working as the assistant principal at Derby Middle School.
The changes started Monday and will be in place until Dec. 5, according to the message.
The message makes no mention of the staffers being temporarily replaced — Sean Morrissey, the Derby Middle School principal, and Matthew Spar, the school’s dean of students/assistant principal.
The message provided no information on what prompted the change.
“I have no comment, you would have to go through the superintendent’s office. Thank you,” Morrissey said when reached by phone at his residence Monday afternoon.
Superintendent Matthew Conway said Morrissey and Spar are still employed by the district, but he would not comment on what prompted the sudden change at the middle school, calling it a personnel issue.
“I cannot comment on the interim changes at the Middle School at this time other than what I posted to parents on the website and through school reach,” Conway said in an email to the Valley Indy. “Thanks for understanding.”
School reach is a notification system used by the school district to get messages to parents.
The Valley Indy also reached out Monday to five members of the Derby school board for comment.
Board of Education member Jim Gildea responded in an email, saying there was little he could add. Gildea said the issue is in the hands of the superintendent.
Board of Education member James Stadt said he didn’t have information on the issue.
“I don’t know a lot at this point. I’m assuming the information will come down when it comes down,” Stadt said.
Morrissey’s position pays $130,868 annually. Spar’s position pays $86,503 annually.
The Valley Indy submitted a freedom of information request Monday for access to Morrissey’s and Spar’s personnel files, which are public documents under state law.
Two sources told the Valley Indy that the “interim” administrative changes came as the school district reviews the response to last week’s incident at Derby Middle School.
The Threat
A written threat was found in a girl’s bathroom within Derby Middle School on Monday, Nov. 17.
The message indicated harm would come to the school, staff and students through the use of a gun and an explosive device. The message listed several names of students and staff members.
The middle school was put in “lock in” from 11:45 a.m. until 2:40 p.m. Students were not allowed to leave their classrooms during that time.
The superintendent held a question and answer session after school Nov. 17 during which he talked to concerned parents who said they were not kept in the loop during the “lock in.”
The school board then reviewed the matter during a meeting Nov. 17, and decided to close the middle school on Nov. 18 in an effort to assuage parents and to allow Derby police to investigate.
One parent complained to the Valley Indy Nov. 18 that her daughter had found threatening messages in the eighth grade girls’ bathroom Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, but school officials did nothing about it.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Derby police charged a 13-year-old with first-degree threatening and breach of peace in connection to the crime. Her case is now in the hands of the state’s juvenile justice system, which is closed to the general public.
This was the message from the superintendent, as seen on the Derby Public Schools website Monday morning:
Good Evening,
There will be an interim change in the administration at the Middle School beginning on Monday, November 24, 2014 through Friday, December 5, 2014.
The interim team will be led by Mr. Gaillard, currently principal at the High school, now providing oversight of the Middle school and High school. Assisting Mr. Gaillard as Vice Prinicpal at the Middle School will be Mr. Pascale, currently the Vice Principal at the High school. Mr. Landolfi, Ms. Artaiz and Ms. Almonte will provide additional administrative support at the Middle school and High school.
The interim administrative team met today to develop a transition plan and ensure all needs and expectations are met for all students, staff and parents in grades 6 through 12. We will keep you updated on any changes to this schedule.
Thank you for your support through this transition and have a great week!
Dr. Matthew J. Conway, Jr.
