Superintendent Stephen Tracy has recommended the Derby Board of Education fire Derby Middle School Dean of Students William LaRovera, who was accused of bringing narcotics to school last month.
But LaRovera is trying to work out a settlement that would allow him to resign, according to his attorney, Robert Serafinowicz.
LaRovera is facing criminal charges after Derby Middle School Principal Sally Bonina searched his computer bag and allegedly found 66 Roxicodone pills in two plastic bags.
He was charged Sept. 15 with narcotics possession, possession of narcotics near a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia near a school and failing to store narcotics in the original container. Click here to read an article about the warrant used to charge LaRovera.
LaRovera has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Serafinowicz told the Valley Indy that LaRovera had become dependent on pain medication due to an old injury. He questions the way the incident was handled.
LaRovera appeared briefly at Superior Court in Derby Monday afternoon, where his criminal case was continued until Nov. 15, to give his attorney time to sort out the employment issues.
“We’re considering employment options,” Serafinowicz told Judge Burton Kaplan during the hearing. ​“The school board has offered a disposition on that case.”
Outside of the court, Serafniowicz said:
“He was offered a settlement that would entail a bunch of different things. As part of it, he would take a leave under the Family Medical Leave Act followed by resignation. It’s a complex situation, and it’s up to my client what he wants to do.”
Tracy declined to comment on the settlement to which Serafinowicz referred.
“I can’t comment on that, other than to say there’s been no settlement agreed to,” Tracy said Monday.
The Process
At an executive session meeting on Oct. 13, Tracy gave his recommendation to terminate LaRovera to the Derby Board of Education.
LaRovera and Serafinowicz were invited to the hearing, but did not attend, Tracy said.
The board voted to consider the recommendation, which, under state law, starts the termination process.
“This is the first step,” Tracy said. ​“It puts it on the table for the board to deal with.”
LaRovera has 20 days to ask the board for a termination hearing.
Serafinowicz said he has requested one — and he wants the termination hearing to be held in public.
“There are certain things I think the public needs to know about,” Serafinowicz said.
But Serafniowicz said he hopes the board and LaRovera can come to a settlement instead of the termination.
“The board and I want to move expeditiously and get some resolution to this,” Tracy said.
LaRovera, who has been on paid leave since the pills were found, makes $80,759 a year, and was poised to become the assistant principal at Derby High School.
While he’s out, the district has brought in retired school administrator George Tanner to help out at the middle school.
The Criminal Case
Serafinowicz said he expects the employment issues to be cleared up before Nov. 15, LaRovera’s next court date.
Then LaRovera will focus on the criminal charges. Serafinowicz said a standard approach in a case like this is to apply for a drug education program through the court.
But they won’t make a decision until after the employment issues are handled.
“These are two large decisions,” Serafinowicz said. ​“If we handle them one at a time, it’s the most efficient way to do this.”