Northeast Parent Collects More Than 70 Signatures Opposing Teacher's Return

A parent at Northeast Academy has collected 71 signatures opposing the return of fourth-grade teacher Carole Van Erven to the classroom, and a Pawcatuck lawyer said he is investigating what took place on behalf of a parent with a child in the class.

Debra Frank, a parent with two children at , started the petition drive on Saturday to oppose the return of Van Erven to the school.

Frank, a registered nurse for 28 years and school nurse for 10, said and the administration’s response.

Teacher On Leave

Van Erven, who has declined to speak publicly about the complaints, after school administrators learned she had asked students to hold paper towels in their mouths for five minutes if they spoke out of turn.

Superintendent Paul Kadri said the students were not instructed to crumple paper towels into a wad, but rather to place them in their mouths, holding the paper towel between their lips and keeping their mouths closed. He said the practice took place in late Janurary and early February, then stopped.

He said the principal did a full investigation with the teacher’s cooperation, to confirm this happened, and the incident was not a fireable offense.

Parents Dispute Account

Parents have described it differently.

Frank's petition and another parent said the practice affected nine students on multiple occasions from January until March, and students were told to "hold and keep paper towels in their mouths for several minutes at a time."

A mother whose son was in the class said that during a meeting with Kadri, parents described the paper towels as “crumpled” and were not corrected.

Comments Not Permitted

Frank began speaking during the public comment section of the Groton Board of Education meeting Monday, and was stopped by Board Chairwoman Kirsten Hoyt.

“It’s still a personnel issue and our jurisdiction is not with personnel,” Hoyt said. She said the board can't get involved because it may have to oversee a hearing on the issue if one takes place.

Frank said she notified board members in advance that she would speak and heard back from three of them. She said she was not told her remarks should be limited.

“I think this is yet another attempt to sweep this under the rug,” she said.

Frank then handed the petition to the board, saying, “I am totally appalled.”

Hoyt said Frank could request the matter be brought to the personnel director and dealt with that way. Board member Chaz Zezulka said the teacher would also have the right to be present at the meeting.

“This is a safety issue,” Frank said. “This is not a personnel issue.”

“Is it happening in every classroom?” Hoyt asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Frank replied. She later collected an additional signature outside the meeting and said she would continue to add to the petition.

Lawyer Investigating

James Hall, a lawyer from Pawcatuck, said he is representing a parent with a child in the school and investigating on behalf of the parent. Hall handles physical, emotional and sexual abuse cases.

He said it would be unacceptable in any other situation to compel someone “to put something in their body against their will.”

“It appears that the school board is saying there was no malicious intent, and I’m having a difficult time getting my head around that,” he said.

Hall said part of his investigation would focus on when the school learned the practice was taking place.

Principal Paul Esposito has declined to comment, referring questions to Kadri.

Kadri said he met with parents after the teacher was placed on leave, and discussed it with them. He said they were of different minds when they walked in, but when they left they were on the same page.