NFA Board of Trustees 'satisfied' with attorney's investigation
Norwich — The Norwich Free Academy board of trustees, "for the time being," appears to have concluded its investigation into the school’s response to allegations that surfaced in April 2017 that an assistant coach was having sexual relations with a student.
The board met behind closed doors for about 40 minutes Wednesday with attorney Matthew Curtin, hired by the board to investigate the school’s response and quick dismissal in April 2017 of allegations that then-assistant coach Anthony Facchini was having sexual relations with a student. Facchini was arrested Sept. 12, 2018, and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault for alleged sexual relations with two students in 2017 and 2018.
The board in January voted unanimously that Head of School David Klein was cleared of wrong-doing in the incident and directed Klein to receive Curtin’s recommendations and take whatever actions he deemed appropriate.
Board Chairwoman Sarette Williams declined to take reporters’ questions following the Wednesday meeting and issued a written statement.
“Tonight’s executive session was a follow-up briefing with Attorney Curtin relative to several points of inquiry the Board had asked that he pursue,” the statement said. “For the time being, the Board is satisfied with the thoroughness of the investigation, and we are moving forward.
Klein placed Director of Campus Safety Kevin Rodino, Curriculum Director Denise Grant and Physical and Health Education Department Head Susan Hopkins-Terrell on paid administrative leaving pending further investigation.
Rodino was arrested on Monday and charged with failure to report suspected child abuse, tampering with evidence, issuing a false statement and interfering with a police officer in connection with his internal investigation into the allegations. Police said no further arrests are expected, due to the one-year statute of limitations on the Class A misdemeanor of failure to report suspected abuse of a minor to the state Department of Children and Families.
