Norwich ― School board members continue to express frustration at the apparent lack of progress in the investigation of Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow and her assistant, who were placed on paid leave a year ago this month.

Stringfellow and Assistant Superintendent Tamara Gloster were placed on leave in September 2023 amid allegations by teachers and former teachers and administrators that they fostered a toxic work environment of intimidation and fear. The school board hired Hartford attorney Kyle McClain to investigate the allegations.

But at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, board member Heather Fowler again asked for a progress report on the investigation and questioned why the board cannot terminate Stringfellow’s employment immediately. She noted that Stringfellow’s contract is set to expire at the end of next June.

“It’s in the hands of attorneys right now and unfortunately I can’t really comment,” Chairman Mark Kulos told the board, “because of the privacy and legal confidentiality issues concerning this.”

“We need a timeframe, or we need to make a decision without the rest of the information,” Fowler said. “Because, obviously there’s been enough information found. It’s taken a year.”

“No, we don’t need to make a decision,” Kulos responded, “unless you want to get sued.”

Fowler said the board continues to get the same updates with no information provided.

“Our town is suffering,” she said. “They’re angry and they’re upset. We’re paying for two superintendents and we’re in this budget crisis.”

School Business Administrator Robert Sirpenski told the board that McClain has billed for 6.1 hours of work in July and 35.5 hours in June, prompting board members to repeat complaints voiced at past meetings that the attorney is not making the investigation a priority.

At the May school board meeting, Fowler and board member Christine Distasio voiced similar concerns after Sirpenski said McClain had billed for just two hours, $579, from March 28 through April 30.

“The reason it’s taking so long is because they are taking their sweet time,” Fowler said.

Kulos said he will schedule a special executive session meeting with McClain for a more detailed update on the investigation.

Last week, as part of information presented to the City Council to reconcile the 2023-24 school budget deficit, Sirpenski reported the costs of the investigation through June 30 has totaled $352,425.This includes salaries for Acting Superintendent Susan Lessard and Acting Assistant Jamie Bender and $49,000 in legal costs. The costs were not anticipated so were not included in the school budget.

Sirpenski told the City Council the legal costs had increased another $1,000 in August.

Kulos said he has no estimate of when the investigation will be completed as the schedule could change.

“Without violating any integrity of the case,” Distasio said, “we should be able to know where they are at in this investigation.”

c.bessette@theday.com