This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

East Haddam BOE Violates DCF Mandate

Connecticut Public Act 11-93  requires 
(2) (A) on and after July 1, 2011, require each applicant for a position in a public school requiring a certificate, authorization or permit issued pursuant to chapter 166 to submit to a records check of the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, before such applicant may be hired by such board, 
In  a letter dated October 18, 2013 signed by Superintendent Mary Beth Iacobelli, "Also, the East Haddam Board of Education does not conduct background checks through the Department of Children and Families so there are no such records in the Board's files."   
I contacted the Superintendent's office and spoke with Sarah Clark.  I stated I was confused by the letter and wanted to know if they were conducted in another manner.  She stated they simply were just not done. 
Once again, I ask the question how can the East Haddam Board Of Education continue to violate state mandates and no action is taken.  We are trusting them to not only educate our children but also to protect them. 
According to this act and the dates on the contracts signed by both Mary Beth Iacobelli and Steve Strand neither should have been hired  until and if a clean DCF background check was received.  Let us not forget they don't have the State and FBI mandated backgrounds either. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?