a. HARTFORD. PUBLIE SoHOOLS ‘Where the future is present April 24, 2019 Dear Dr. Colon-Rivas: ‘As you know, I requested that the Board’s legal counsel investigate a complai against you, Specifically, the employee made the following allegations: filed by an employee! 1, In January 2018, you asked the employee to submit a receipt for your purchase of Dunkin Donuts ($30.17) for reimbursement with the employee's own request for reimbursement. Although the eraployee was uncomfortable with your request, the employee submitted the request for reimbursement. When the employee received the reimbursement, the employee provided you with cash for the amount of the receipt. 2. In October 2018, you submitted a request for three (3) days of vacation time. After receiving approval by Dr. Vézquez Matos of this request, you directed the employee to enter the time off as sick time. Although the employee was uncomfortable with your direction, the employee entered ‘the time off as directed. The employee also alleges that in January 2019, you requested vacation ‘time, and after it was approved, you again directed the employee to enter the time off as sick ie. The employee indicated that after a notice was issued reminding employees that changing time after approval was prohibited, you asked the employee if the employee had reported your request, and directed the employee to hold off on entering the time off. 3. You engaged in conduct meant to intimidate the employee, by telling the employee that Dr. ‘Torres-Rodriguez. and Dr. Vazquez Matos were angry with the employee for mistakes the employee made. The employee apologized to Dr. Vézquez Matos, who indicated that he had not been upset with the employee. Similarly, the employee apologized to Dr. Torres-Rodriguez, who responded that she was not upset with the employee and was not aware of the alleged mistake (relating to a scheduling error). 4. On or about May 30, 2018, you directed the employee to purchase a projector from Office Depot. On June 25, 2018, the employee contacted Office Depot to inquire about the status of the projector, and was informed that the projector had been delivered on June 4, 2018. On the following day, the projector was found in your office. Since that time, the employee has been lunelear as to the whereabouts of the projector. 5. On or about May 14, 2018, you directed that certain technology and equipment be purchased from Apple totaling $7,578.00. The items ordered were: 2 MacBook Pros (totaling $5,016.00); 1 iMac ($1,368.00); 2 AirPods ($318.00); and 2 iPad Minis (totaling $876.00). You did not deliver ‘the equipment to those you had indicated the equipment had been purchased for (ie., Central Registration at Hartford High, Security). The employee has been uncleat as to the whereabouts of this technology/equipment. ‘You were given the opportunity to be heard during the course of the investigation, including on February 20, 2019, February 21, 2019, March 11, 2019, and March 28, 2019. During each of these meetings you met with Attorney Leander Dolphin and James Canon (Executive Director of Internal {The employee's name and identity has been removed from this report to protect the employee, who is concemed alition for fii t . is i _-Sbgut retaliation for in i. However, Dr. Colon. f the employee manneNT I oe HARTFORD | Fu ‘SCHOOLS Where the future is present Investigations and Security), and you were accompanied by your personal attorney to the March 11 and March 28 meetings. On March 28, 2019, Attorney Dolphin provided you with her factual findings, and you were given an opportunity to respond. Specifically, during the mecting, you admitted that you did ask the employee to submit your receipt as part of her own reimbursement, despite your knowledge that District protocols required that each person submit their own reimbursements. You also admitted that you directed the employee to change your approved request for three (3) days of vacation time to sick time, Although you denied that you made a second such request, the investigator found the employee's allegation to be credible. ‘You admitted that you directed that certain technology and equipment be ordered, but that the purchased equipment was not delivered to those employees or departments for whom they were intended for many months. You also admitted that you had maintained many pieces of ‘equipment/technology at your home, in your cat, and had given one item to a third party. You offered that you had no “malintent” in undertaking any of the conduct at issue, and characterized your conduct as “pretty negligent.” Upon reviewing Attomey Dolphin’s investigation and your response, I have concluded that you: 1. inappropriately directed a subordinate employee to submit your reimbursement request as the employee's own; 2, inappropriately directed a subordinate employee to change your approved vacation requests to sick time; 3. failed to exercise good judgment and failed to follow District protocols for the management of District technology and security, and failed to ensure operational effectiveness and resource accountability when you removed several pieces of District-owned technology from the District for several months; and 4, violated the Board’s Acceptable Computer Network Use policy when you failed to use the District's technological resources primarily for purposes related to your employment. In addition, I conclude that you failed to provide an adequate or plausible explanation for your conduct, including why you maintained so much District equipment at your home or with third parties, Rather, ‘you provided shifting explanations that called your credibility into question. Finally, as a member of the Cabinet, you have failed to demonstrate effective leadership. Your inappropriate conduct is completely unacceptable. Therefore, the separation of your employment is effective immediately in accordance with the terms of your employment agreement for inefficiency, incompetence, insubordination against reasonable rules of the Board of Education and other due and sufficient cause, ir. Leslie Tor Superintendent of Schools cc: Personnel File Natasha Banks, Executive Director of Human Resources James Canon, Jr., Executive Director of Internal investigations & Secruity ‘960 Matn Street Harford CT 06108 > worw hartfordeehools.o7g