Bristol names interim principal at school where alleged state testing ‘irregularities’ took place

While the investigation is ongoing, the principal at Ivy Drive School was placed on administrative leave

The Bristol Public School district, which has acknowledged alleged state testing “irregularities,” has appointed an interim principal of Ivy Drive School, according to acting Superintendent of Schools Iris White.

The move was made just days after the district notified parents it had been made aware of alleged state testing “irregularities” and have reported it to the state Department of Education.

While the investigation is ongoing, the principal at Ivy Drive School was placed on administrative leave, according to the email sent to parents on the ParentSquare tool.

White said Tuesday in a ParentSquare email to parents and district stakeholders that Sara Kulig has been appointed interim principal of Ivy Drive School as of May 24.

Kulig has been a kindergarten to fifth grade math coach since 2019 and supported three schools in the district, including Ivy Drive, for three school years, according to White.

“In this role, she has collaborated with district coaches on the planning and implementation of curriculum; developed building schedules with school leadership and implemented a daily schedule to include mathematics support groups and coaching cycles; and provided in-class support to teachers as a member of school leadership,” King said in the email to parents.

Kulig also serves as director of the Step Up Summer School Program, according to White.

“Previously, she was a first and fourth grade teacher at Greene-Hills School, kindergarten teacher at Ellen P. Hubbell School, kindergarten and second grade teacher at O’Connell School, and a special education pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teacher at Plymouth Summer School in Plymouth,” White said.

Further, Kulig “brings nearly 15 years of elementary teaching experience to her new role as Interim Principal of Ivy Drive.”

Kulig earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Connecticut, and a certificate of advanced graduate studies in advanced educational leadership from the University of New England, according to White.

“Our administration continues to cooperate fully with the Connecticut State Department of Education investigation,” White said. “In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation and maintain student confidentiality, we cannot provide further information at this time.  Please rest assured that the education and well-being of our students remains the district’s top priority.”

White and Board of Education chair Shelby Pons said in the Sunday note to parents, “We take these allegations very seriously.”

The item shared on ParentSquare did not name the administrator who was suspended. The Ivy Drive School principal is Emily Gomes.

Gomes did not answer an email sent to her seeking comment.

The Sunday email from Pons and White also said, “We wish to assure you, however, that the education and well-being or our students remains the district’s foremost concerns and we will ensure that our students continue to thrive.”

A spokesman for the state Department of Education said Monday that the agency is in the “preliminary stages of reviewing information pertinent to the alleged testing” irregularity, “and should that review so warrant, the CSDE will conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation.” He said he could not comment further.

According to sources familiar with education in Connecticut, the department could send an investigator to speak to people in the district.

Additionally, the department could seek footage from video cameras in the school, access to computers used to take the tests, and potential witnesses to the alleged “irregularities.” The sources said that any student who takes standardized tests is given a specific code, typically by a teacher, and the tabs on the computers are typically locked during the test taking.

A source familiar with education practices in Connecticut also said that it would be very rare for any possible “irregularities” to arise in a test-taking situation, because the system is so regimented.

Further, educators, “know the rules,” and are ethical, the source said.