Retired teacher urges Middletown board to investigate alleged retaliation, presents employee‑protection checklist

Gregory Bennett, a retired director of choirs at Middletown High School, addressed the board during public comment on Feb. 12 and said a letter signed by retired and former employees described instances of overt and subtle retaliation, harassment, and bullying by the superintendent and the district’s director of human resources.

Bennett said the letter had been provided to board members and detailed measures he urged the board to adopt, including impartial investigations, preservation of investigative records, restrictions on abolishing occupied positions during reorganizations, and written procedures to ensure transparency and consistency in disciplinary actions. The letter—Bennett said—was signed by himself and four others and had been submitted to the board clerk.

The board chair acknowledged receipt of the letter and said the board had accepted it into the record. Bennett framed the request as a call to protect employees who engage in protected activity, such as whistleblowing or filing FOIL requests, and warned of legal and oversight risks if concerns were not addressed. The board did not announce a specific investigative timeline during the public meeting.

Separately, another public speaker announced a run for the school board and raised concerns about the board’s alignment with NISBBA/NISBA guidelines for ethics and culture. The public‑comment period also included praise for staff and programs and multiple calls for maintaining a healthy school‑district culture.

Next steps: the board acknowledged the letter; no further action or timetable was announced publicly during the meeting.