NORWICH – The Norwich City School Board of Education convened at its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday night to discuss the appointment of personnel recommendations, and more specifically, the decision to re-appoint high school girls varsity basketball coach, Josh Bennett.

The meeting opened with public comment affording community members an opportunity to speak directly to the board of education.

Five people addressed the board each offering support for Josh Bennett's re-appointment and their opinions on what they believe the board's role should be in the district.

“People are advocating to run to the board of education versus standing up and addressing the issue head on,” said Todd Hansen, parent to two student athletes in the Norwich school district. “Chain of command is vital in every walk of life.

“In the calendar that [the BOE] sent out, you are very specific regarding communications and the route to follow. Any questions about athletics, there is a process: If you have a problem, you talk to the coach. If it isn't resolved, you talk to the athletic director. If it still isn't resolved, you talk to the superintendent. The reason we are here today is that we stepped outside of policy and chain of command.”

Assistant NHS girls varsity basketball coach Dennis Eaton said, “While the total number of people impacted by a coaching appointment pales in comparison to more impactful issues facing this board, frankly, this is my fight, and my daughter's fight."

"I ask these members before us to look at my daughter Halea, and explain why a man who has given his time, effort, and passion to Halea – and all the kids that he works with daily to give them every opportunity to success – why is he being portrayed as a bad influence on her and her fellow classmates?”

BOE President John Klockowski said the reason Bennett's position is in question is because of “serious allegations” made against the coach by “several parents.” The nature of these allegations was not made public due to being a personnel matter, nor would it be known who made the allegations.

“It's easy for individuals to come here and speak on behalf of Mr. Bennett, I know that you're passionate about what you believe,” said Klockowski. “But for parents and other players and community members to come up here and speak to us, it's a very difficult situation for them because they are in fear of retaliation.”

Klockowski offered a motion for the board to vote on personnel recommendations on a line-by-line basis, as opposed to voting on it as one item.

“Is this a way of separating Josh [Bennett] from the other appointments?” asked board member Joe Stagliano.

Klockowski maintained that was not the case, to which Stagliano replied, “The reason is to vote Josh off, that's the reason, let's be transparent.”

“I don't know how the vote's going to go, don't make allegations if you don't know them to be true, Joe,” said Klockowski.

“Exactly, like the serious allegations against Josh––I'm really concerned about that,” said Stagliano.

Board member Howie Sullivan asked if the allegations were discussed with Bennett, and Klockowski said, “Not by us, we brought them to the attention of [Norwich Superintendent] Mr. O'Sullivan.”

O'Sullivan said, “I was never given any information. I was never given any names. You told me that there were allegations from parents, coaches, officials, and athletic directors from other districts, and I've asked repeatedly to provide me with a name, to have these people contact me, and you've never provided me with an official, coach, athletic director, never. I would be more than willing to follow the chain of command.”

Board Vice President Jennifer Collins said, “Mr. O'Sullivan I would like to refresh your memory, we sat in this room – the personnel committee attended by John [Klockowski] and myself – you, me, and [Norwich Athletic Director] Mr. Downey and we reviewed some of the allegations and things that had happened, not in terms of individuals, but activities that had happened during games, and those sorts of things.”

O'Sullivan replied, “Those were anonymous. I can't follow-up on an anonymous complaint.”

The board would then enter a two-hour long executive session to deliberate the appointment of Bennett.

At a certain point, board member Bob Smith returned from the executive session to address attending members of the Norwich girls varsity basketball team, one of whom had said during public forum that she was disappointed her teammates had not had a say in the process.

“You said you haven't had a chance to be heard, now's your chance,” said Smith. “I will talk to anyone who wants to talk to me.”

The board would return from executive session to vote 4-3 in favor of appointing Bennett, along with assistant coaches Dennis Eaton, and Pete Komendarek. Board members Roz DeRensis, Howie Sullivan, Bob Smith, and Joe Stagliano voted in favor of the appointment, and board members John Klockowski, Jennifer Collins, and Don Chirlin voted against the appointment.

The rest of the personnel recommendations were voted on as one item, and were passed unanimously by board members.

After this, the majority of remaining agenda items were tabled for the sake of time, as it was three hours into the meeting.

The Norwich BOE will meet again at its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 18.