NFA board holds 4-hour, closed-door meeting
Norwich — The Norwich Free Academy board of trustees met behind closed doors for more than four hours on Friday, discussing the internal investigation into the police investigation of a former assistant coach.
The board did not take any action at the meeting, and Chairwoman Sarette Williams did not provide a statement or take questions after the meeting.
The former coach, Anthony Facchini, 25, of Norwich was arrested Sept. 12 on two counts of second-degree sexual assault for alleged sexual relations with two students. According to the arrest warrant and police search warrants for NFA computers and emails, NFA officials first learned of the allegations in April 2017 but dismissed them after a two-day inquiry in which the coach and a student both denied the claims.
Police also wrote that NFA redacted names of alleged student victims in information turned over to police in the investigation and failed to turn over a green hardback notebook in which Campus Safety Director Kevin Rodino kept notes on the investigation.
Police obtained emails and computer data from Head of School David Klein, Rodino, Director of Student Affairs John Iovino, Shattuck Building Principal Kristin Peckrul, former Athletic Director Eric Swallow and guidance counselor Jessica St. George from April 24, 2017, through Sept. 12, 2018.
The agenda for the executive session was listed as "discussion regarding attorney-client privileged communications."
More specifically, Williams said in a statement handed out before the meeting, attorney Matthew Curtin would give the board and NFA's attorney, Kyle McClain, "findings-to-date which pertain to his internal investigation."
"The findings and the Board's questions will indicate the way forward on this matter," Williams said.
Both the Norwich and Lisbon boards of education, partner districts that send students to NFA, have requested detailed information, including emails, Rodino's initial April 2017 investigation report and related documents.
All trustees were present Friday except one. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29.
