The woman who took the heat for Darien’s special education debacle was hired as a top administrator in a Massachusetts school district, and she got help getting this job from a Darien employee who is currently on paid leave.
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Category Archives: FOIA
Another one bites the dust: Special ed admin resigns
Another special education administrator who was employed during the year Darien broken state and federal special education law has left town to take a similar job in Greenwich.
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Alleged ringleader of special ed disaster retires early
After 10 years in Darien, Judith Pandolfo has retired from Darien Schools.
Pandolfo previously served as assistant superintendent, overseeing the elementary schools. However, a recent reorganization of district administration left her without a job. In a press release sent late Wednesday morning, Interim Superintendent Lynne Pierson announced Pandolfo’s decision to resign a year earlier than expected.
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Lawyers file motion to dismiss paper’s FOIA complaint
The law firm representing Darien Schools has filed a motion to dismiss a complaint by The Darien Times that claims the school district is illegally withholding information from the public.
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Parents and teacher united, and divided, on school climate
Parents and teachers shared diverse opinions on the public school district’s strengths and weaknesses in written comments on a school survey, offering a detailed glimpse into a district of historically excellent academics that has fallen under heavy scrutiny over the past year because of mismanagement and illegal activity, which has led to high turnover and questions of where the district is headed.
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Teachers say special ed services went undelivered. Again.
Schedule problems last school year led to some children with disabilities missing services that were supposed to be given to them, according to results from a recent survey of teachers.
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Departing principal cites accused lawbreakers as references
Another Darien administrator has joined several of his colleagues in exodus, leading to a variety of concerns about the integrity of the school system and if Darien will be able to attract quality school leaders.
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Information requests cited as part of town’s budget problem
In a report to the Board of Finance, school officials singled out parents and news outlets that sought information over the past year as having contributed to the cost overruns that now have the schools operating $807,000 in the red.
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Royle principal resigning, heads closer to home
After four years of leading Royle School and an entire career in Darien, Keith Margolus will be leaving this summer to take over as principal of Branchville Elementary School in Ridgefield.
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PR firms rakes in $50,000 helping schools manage crisis
A Hartford public relations firm billed Darien taxpayers over $50,000 during the past year to help the school district manage public perception of the special education crisis.
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