Tensions mount over teacher probe
Parents upset, school officials mum over Broadview educator’s investigation
DANBURY — Tensions are growing between the parents of students in a Broadview Middle School special education class and Danbury school administrators over an ongoing investigation into the children’s teacher.
Parents are upset about what they say are unanswered questions surrounding the sudden suspension of longtime Broadview educator Bill Herzog in May and they have taken their complaints public at the school board’s meetings this month and last.
But school officials remain tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Herzog’s removal, which has led to emotionally charged critiques and conspiracies from parents.
“We just want answers,” said Bob Evans, whose twin sons were in Herzog’s class and came to the meeting. “They’re not telling us everything and we only want (the school board) to give us basic information that we deserve.”
Herzog, 40, remains on unpaid leave during a state investigation into accusations he has used “harsh and arguably abusive” language with his students to try to control his classroom, according to portions of his personnel file made public last week.
It is the second such investigation into Herzog’s conduct this school year, including allegations last fall he forced one student to clean up mucus she had spread on the floor and stuffed a rag in one student’s mouth to discourage him from humming, the documents show.
Herzog was recently named one of the top special education teachers in the country and has defended the mucus incident and denied the rag accusation in a letter included in the files, but he was reprimanded for the incidents in January by Superintendent Sal Pascarella.
About a dozen parents of students in Herzog’s class have remained outspoken supporters of him in the wake of both investigations and argue the district has not been forthright about either investigation. They were infuriated last month when school officials cut off their comments about Herzog, citing privacy concerns about the ongoing investigation.
Board Chairman Pat Johnston announced the board would take the parents’ comments Wednesday, however, and read a statement outlining rules that the parents not make specific references to any names involved in the investigation.
The statement also addressed concerns raised by parents that the district had intentionally withheld from parents some of the documents regarding Herzog obtained by the News-Times through a public records request last week.
“I have made an attempt to be as transparent as possible, as promised, although much of the investigation is being conducted by an independent investigation team,” Johnston said, indirectly referencing the state’s investigation.
“No information has been withheld from the public and then granted to the media to spite them,” he continued. “The information garnered was under a Freedom of Information (Act) request and its release was required as a matter of law. Our in-house legal and human resources department acted in all matters in a manner to protect the students, the employees and thus the entire district form violating anyone’s rights.”
That answer did not satisfy parents, said Evans and Lori Hickey, whose 17-yearold son Paul is is now at Danbury High School. Hickey argued the school board should investigate district administrators’ handling of the situation.
“We the parents need to know the administration is also a member of that team and truly working with us, not against us,” she said.
During the meeting, parents and two former students of Herzog circumvented the more stringent public comment guidelines to speak about Herzog by referring to him only as “BH” or “Mr. H” while speaking in support of his character. Several parents have argued his absence has led their children with severe educational and behavioral needs to regress.
“BH is not only a teacher, he is a role model, a volunteer and he is an outstanding leader in his field,” said Theresa Lopez, whose son was in Herzog’s class. “He is a teacher that all teachers should set their standards by.”
School officials again refused to discuss the situation with parents and a reporter, citing the ongoing investigation. Herzog also is barred from discussing any of the incidents, per a reprimand filed against him following the first investigation.
Officials have suggested the state investigation, which the state will not disclose publicly, could stretch late into the summer.
Last month, Herzog was honored again as one of 22 teachers nationwide — and the only one from Connecticut — to receive the Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award given each year by the National Association of Special Education Teachers.