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NORWALK – State officials have closed an investigation into allegations of misconduct by a staff member at Brien McMahon High School, according to the state Department of Education.
Department spokesman Peter Yazbak said on Tuesday that the department had taken no action in response to the investigation. Yazbak said the investigation ended after another agency resolved the issue, but he did not identify the organization.
In late April, the department, which oversees the state’s public schools, revealed it had opened an investigation into “issues of concern” involving an anonymous Brien McMahon educator.
The disclosure came just weeks after Norwalk Public Schools abruptly placed three Brien McMahon employees on administrative leave, including Scott Hurwitz, the school principal.
Hurwitz was put on leave in early April to allow the district to deal with an undisclosed personnel matter, said at the time Brenda Wilcox Williams, district chief of staff and communications.
A few days later, the district’s internal investigation expanded to include two deputy directors: Barbara Wood and Qadir Abdus-Salaam. Wood was allowed to return to work in early May, but as of this week Hurwitz and Abdus-Salaam remain on leave.
The school system refused to justify the decision to put administrators on leave, but district officials stressed that employees had not been punished or fired.
In an effort to dispel rumors and allay parents’ concerns, Superintendent Alexandra Estrella said the ongoing investigation was not linked to allegations of sexual misconduct.
“As a parent, I appreciate any concerns and questions you may have, and I want to assure you that the safety of all students at Norwalk Public Schools is of paramount importance,” Estrella wrote in a April 24th e-mail to parents. “To that end, I want to dispel the rumors that have most shocked our community and make it clear that we are not investigating any allegations of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.”
At the time, Yazbak also confirmed that the state’s investigation “did not involve allegations of sexual misconduct based on the information currently available to us.”
Norwalk Police officials said the department had not been made aware of any issues at the school that would lead to a criminal investigation.
It is not known which agency solved the issue that prompted the state Education Department’s investigation. It is also not clear whether the educator accused of misconduct was convicted of violating state or local policies. Wilcox Williams, the district spokesperson, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Hurwitz, a former teacher and householder, has been a principal since 2017. His long absence has worried parents and students who have relied on his leadership for the past four years.
Tracy Gulick, co-chair of the Brien McMahon Parent Teacher Student Association and parent of two Brien McMahon students, described Hurwitz as an ethics director who always takes the time to speak with students. She said she would like to see Hurwitz reinstated immediately.
“I don’t need to know why he left. I just need him to come back, ”Gulick said. “School is not the same when he’s not there. You can navigate a ship as much as you want, but without your captain, trust me, it’s not in the right direction.
Julie Begos, co-chair of the Senators’ Success Fund, an independent nonprofit that raises funds for Brien McMahon projects, called Hurwitz “a great advocate for the school’s students.” She noted that he implemented a series of new successful projects and helped improve the school’s International Baccalaureate program.
Begos said she was concerned that the confusion surrounding Hurwitz’s absence could cause teachers to look for work elsewhere and could cause parents to consider sending their children to another school.
“I think the school has really suffered from not having a clear leader at the helm,” she said. “Everything he does seems to be for the students. Just watching him in action gave me confidence in his abilities.
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