The Norwich Board of Education made the right decision Monday in voting unanimously to place Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow on paid administrative leave. Stringfellow will step aside pending the results of an investigation into credible allegations that she fostered a hostile work environment.

The troubling reports about how Stringfellow ran things came into public view in June when two former administrators wrote to the school board, making serious claims that the superintendent used bullying tactics to make employees fall in line and punished those who did not show sufficient loyalty.

Those accounts released a flood of troubling complaints that had dammed up since Stringfellow’s arrival as superintendent back in 2019. It quickly became clear that the concerns voiced by the two former administrators were not isolated, but widely held among teachers and staff. Subsequently, the Connecticut Education Association released a survey of current and former Norwich teachers that found a staggering 96% of respondents did not feel safe expressing their opinions for fear the Stringfellow administration would retaliate.

The Norwich Teachers League blames the poisoned atmosphere for playing a significant role in the large turnover rate among teachers and administrators in the school system. Recent Board of Education meetings have featured large demonstrations of teachers and parents calling for a change in leadership.

Given the lack of faith in her approach to running the schools, and the outright disdain for her, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which Stringfellow resumes her role as superintendent. Yet the board was wise to not immediately remove her, as some had demanded. At this point it is not a matter of whether Stringfellow will depart as superintendent, but rather the terms of that departure.

When the credible concerns first arose in June, our editorial called for the school board to undertake an examination of the workplace atmosphere in Norwich city schools. A week later the board voted to do just that.

School Climate Consultants of Glastonbury, which did the initial investigation, has declined to continue, so the board is searching for a new consultant. Regardless, the findings are likely to strengthen the school board’s negotiating position in any talks concerning the termination of Stringfellow’s contract. Her salary is set at $204,000 for this school year.

What is troubling, however, is that the Board of Education seemed blissfully unaware of these workplace concerns as it gave Stringfellow positive evaluations and pay raises. A thorough evaluation process would not have missed the warning signs. The board was not hearing all voices. There are lessons to be learned for school boards throughout our region — do not just focus on what you are hearing from the administration.

The Norwich board made an excellent choice in naming Susan Lessard, principal at John B. Stanton Elementary School since 2017, as acting superintendent. Based on reactions, Lessard has the confidence of teachers and staff.

Yet running a school is not a popularity contest. Tough decisions must be made. The key is to base those decisions on a fair process using established protocols. Based on the accounts, such fairness has been sorely lacking in the leadership of the Norwich school system. The school board can now correct that.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.