School Board To Take On Issue Of Suspended Stamford High Principals

STAMFORD, Conn. – The Stamford Board of Education is deciding Tuesday whether two Stamford High School administrators, who were charged with failing to report suspicions of child abuse, would return to work, Stamford Advocate reports.

Stamford High Principal Donna Valentine, 62, has been granted accelerated rehabilitation in the court case against her.
Photo Credit: *File Photo*

Stamford Superintendent of Schools Winifred Hamilton said the district will work to make changes on its mandatory reporting after stinging rebuke by state's attorney.
Photo Credit: *File Photo*

by Javier Simon

12/02/2014 5:00 p.m.

Principal Donna Valentine and Assistant Principal Roth Nordin were arrested in October and charged with failing to tell the state Department of Children and Families about allegations that English teacher Danielle Watkins was having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old male student. Watkins was arrested in July, and her court case is pending.

The board will meet with its attorney in regular session and then in executive session, which is closed to the public and media, according to the Stamford Advocate.

In November, Valentine and Nordin were granted accelerated rehabilitation, which would allow criminal charges to be wiped from their records if they avoid any legal trouble within the next two years.

They both have been on paid leave since their arrests. Valentine and Nordin's defense attorneys said in October both administrators expect to return to their jobs.

State’s attorney David Cohen in November blamed failure to report allegations of child abuse on the principals and Stamford Public School’s senior administration.

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