Charges Dismissed Against Suffield Superintendent of Schools

SUFFIELD, CT — An Enfield Superior Court judge has dismissed charges of failure to report abuse or neglect by a mandated reporter filed in November against Suffield Superintendent of Schools Karen Berasi.

Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Parakilas told Judge Sheila Prats he would not seek to prosecute the 68-year-old Berasi, who is currently on paid leave and is slated to retire at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.

On May 22, the office of Chief of Police Richard Brown was notified by Department of Children and Families staff of an allegation involving members of the Suffield Public School District.

"The complaint under DCF investigation alleged that several school administrators and members of senior leadership of the Suffield Public School District, including the Superintendent, had failed to report an act of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families as required by Connecticut law," McKee said at the time.

Retirement plans for Berasi had been unanimously approved by the Board of Education in early November, keeping her on fully paid leave until June 30, 2019. Her annual salary is $176,750.

File photo courtesy of Suffield Police Department

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