Superintendent Robert Angeli won't return to Killingly schools in the fall: What to know
The Killingly Board of Education has declined to renew the contract of Superintendent Robert Angeli whose term of employment is set to expire at the end of the month.
Angeli, a veteran administrator whose personality never seemed to fully gel with board members, was hired less than three years ago and oversaw a district riven at times by controversial board decisions.
In a Tuesday email to district staff and the community, Angeli said he "greatly enjoyed working with the many dedicated educators and staff who worked so diligently and with care to need the needs" of students.
Almost immediately after his November 2020 hiring, he was given the unenviable task of implementing back-to-school protocols in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic that required students for months prior to attend “hybrid” classes, or those that consisted of a mix of in-person and distance learning.
Over the course of Angeli’s time in Killingly, the school board voted itself into a state Department of Education investigation, witnessed renewed conversations concerning the high school’s Native American mascot erupt, and, most recently, angered some residents by opting not to work to retain a popular athletic director.
What we know about Superintendent Robert Angeli's annual evaluation
On April 26, the board convened an hour-long executive session to discuss Angeli’s yearly evaluation. Prior to the closed-door meeting, Angeli, who was not invited to attend, asked whether the members could host a future meeting to discuss their conclusions with him.
Kelly Martin, the board’s vice chairman, stated at the time that Angeli would be provided with a written document at some point that included “exactly what was discussed.”
Angeli in his farewell letter said he was proud to be a part of an effort to increase student mental health care options, as well as the work in leveraging funding for more special education, support and attendance jobs.
"It has been a great pleasure to work in a community that actively supports the education of its children," he wrote. "This has been manifested through financial support for the Killingly Memorial School renovation project and the in support of the annual education budgets."
Why Robert Angeli was picked to run the Killingly school district
Angeli was hired after a months-long search to replace former Killingly superintendent Steven Rioux, who resigned in 2020 to become the Canterbury school district’s leader. The hiring of Angeli, who served as Lebanon’s superintendent for years, was lauded by then-board chairman Doug Farrow for his track record of “dynamic leadership.”
“Bob Angeli brings to Killingly a proven track record of strong leadership and listening skills, as well as experience overseeing a district with a strong VoAg program,” Farrow said in late 2020. “The Hiring Committee felt strongly that Mr. Angeli has a deep understanding of the Killingly community, as well as what the next steps should look like for our district.”
Farrow would later resign from the board, as would his successor, Janice Joly.
Angeli beat out 22 other candidates for the Killingly job and was hired with a yearly salary and benefits package of $185,000. His contract expires on June 30.
More: Killingly approves student mental health clinic. What that means for pending state inquiry
More: Accusations fly on both sides over reasons for Killingly athletic director's departure
Why the Killingly Board of Education is at odds with Angeli
Angeli in 2021 brought forward to the board a proposal to allow Generations Family Health Center to operate a grant-funded center inside the town’s high school that would have offered behavioral health services to students via licensed therapists.
That proposal, aimed at combating long-standing student mental health issues, was later rejected by the board, prompting a citizens’ group to file a successful complaint with the state. That rejection put Angeli - who never wavered in his support of a school-based health center - at odds with the majority of the board.
During board meetings, interactions between Angeli and the board appeared frosty at times with members expressing frustration with the superintendent’s pace in carrying out their directives.
Former board member Jason Muscara and others several times this year stated they were displeased by an apparent lack of movement in introducing armed security officers into the town’s schools.
"It has been an honor to serve the students, families, staff and community as your superintendent," Angeli wrote.
John Penney can be reached at jpenney@norwichbulletin.com or at (860) 857-6965
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly superintendent of schools Robert Angeli out at end of June
