Former Superintendent Paul Kadri Files Complaint With CT Department of Labor

Former Superintendent Paul Kadri has filed a complaint with the Connecticut Department of Labor saying he was denied $8,000, which he was owed under the terms of his contract.

Nancy Steffens, spokeswoman for the Department of Labor, confirmed that the department received a complaint from Kadri on April 1, but said she could not disclose the amount he was seeking or the nature of the complaint.

She said it must still be assigned to an investigator for review to determine if it has merit. Kadri said he is seeking punitive damages in addition to what he believes he is owed, but Steffens said department does not handle punitive damages but handles only owed wages.

School Board Chairwoman Kirsten Hoyt did not return an e-mail seeking comment.

But Floyd Dugas, the lawyer for the school board, said in an email he was aware that a disagreement exists between the school district and Kadri regarding the calculation of his final paycheck and unused vacation pay. Dugas said he had not seen the complaint yet.

"The calculation methods he takes issue with are based upon existing board practices, including those followed under his superintendency," Dugas said.  "We have attempted in good faith to resolve those differences. Unfortunately a disagreement still remains."

Kadri said he filed the complaint after receiving a check for $10,000 shortly after his termination on March 5.

He said he received his last paycheck on March 1 for pay through Feb. 23, and he was owed an additional $18,000 for pay from Feb. 24 through March 5, plus 20 vacation days.

“There was no explanation with it. It was just a check,” he said. Kadri said the business office calculated that he owed the school department $4,000 rather than crediting him $4,000.

“Very clearly they’re just trying to harass me,,” Kadri said. So he said he notified his lawyer and filed the claim.

Kadri also said the school board has also refused to allow him to retrieve his personal files from his office on various programs. He said he’s been told he must specify what he wants when there are hundreds of files.

“This is obviously just being mean,” he said. The school board fired Kadri March 5 after Arbitrator Timothy Bornstein found “due and sufficient cause” to terminate his contract. He found Kadri abused, humiliated and threatened employees, according to the decision issued in the case.

Bornstein did not find Kadri guilty of moral misconduct.