Connetquot Principal Who Abruptly Left Will Return On Monday

BOHEMIA, NY — A beloved high school principal who abruptly announced he would take a leave of absence last month, causing protests and strong reactions from students and families, will officially return to his role.

Superintendent of Connetquot Central School District Lynda G. Adams announced to school families on Friday that Michael Moran, who had announced his leave on March 10, would return to Connetquot High School on April 24.

"He will reassume all his prior responsibilities at that time," said Adams. "The district thanks Mrs. Louise Burger, who served as the building's interim principal while Mr. Moran was out on leave. She will remain on as acting interim principal until Mr. Moran returns on Monday."

While Moran did not state why he was leaving so abruptly, several parents told Patch they believe it is because he advocated to hang the Progress Pride flag, after the board banned it from being hung in classrooms in October.

"I will be taking a leave of absence for the remainder of the school year and will not be back as high school principal for the 2023/2024 school year," he said. "This was, but no longer is, my home. It's been a fun ride."

The announcement of Moran's return comes days after a heated board of education meeting, where member Lee Kennedy spoke out against the removal of Pride flags.

Kennedy is leaving her position on the board at the end of the school year.

"I’m going to say this, once again it’s going to be unpopular, but I’m leaving so I can sit here and tell the truth if people like it or not," she said."What happenened to the LGBT community, was unfair."

She continued to claim that when visiting the high school to check classroom door safety with Adams and board president Jaclyn Napolitano-Furno, the two brought Kennedy into the classroom of Sarah Ecke. A student had complained that the Progress Pride flag hung in Ecke's classroom made them feel "uncomfortable."

Kennedy claimed she had "no idea" why she was in the classroom. She claims the superintendent later confirmed that the visit was intentional and known by Adams and Napolitano-Furno.

"I’m leaving because I’m angry about it. I’m angry about it. You hurt kids," said Kennedy, receiving applause from the audience.

The board president and Kennedy quarrelled back and forth over the matter. Napolitano-Furno claimed that Kennedy knew of the visit to Ecke's classroom beforehand.

"I didn’t do anything to anybody," said Napolitano-Furno. "Let’s not play this game."

Numerous students and families strongly reacted to Moran's leave of absence.

On the afternoon of March 10, students protested in school hallways that day instead of attending class, in protest of the board's actions.

A video obtained by Patch showed students shouting "Bring him back!" while holding a sign that reads "Bring back Moran."

At the March 21 board meeting, multiple parents and students gave countless anecdotes of how Moran was one of "the good ones" who would do anything for their students.

One parent with two children at Connetquot High School told Patch that she is elated for Moran's return. However, the community now sees that "the board's corruption knows no bounds," she said.

"My family is overjoyed that Mr. Moran will return to his position as principal on Monday," she said. "The return of Mr. Moran is a great victory for our children, but we still have more work to do to protect them."