New Haven state lawmakers Martin Looney and Pat Dillon have joined the chorus of Mauro Sheridan School community members calling for the district to reverse the transfer of veteran Assistant Principal Kerry Courcey to King/Robinson School for her final year before retirement.

Concerns Over Transfer Decision

Looney, who also serves as the president of the state Senate, told the Independent that he heard about Courcey’s upcoming transfer from parents, friends, and colleagues who know her. Some of Courcey’s supporters showed up to a Board of Education meeting in June and signed a related petition urging the district to leave the beloved administrator in place.

Looney said he thinks that Courcey’s transfer would create ‘unnecessary instability’ in two places – in Mauro Sheridan, where she’s leaving, and in King/Robinson, where she plans to spend only one year before retiring. He questioned why the district did not ask Courcey what her long-term plans are before making a decision.

District Response

New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Supt. Madeline Negrón has said that she does not plan to rescind Courcey’s transfer – one of four administrator transfers announced on June 8. Negrón stated that no one on her team had knowledge of Courcey’s intent to retire in a year until the transfers were communicated.

Looney responded to Negrón’s message by texting her, ‘Your response that no one on your team had knowledge of Ms. Courcey’s intent to retire in a year appears to indicate a lack of communication by the central administration with building administrators prior to making transfer decisions.’ He continued, ‘I hope that a way forward can be found that preserves the status quo at Mauro/Sheridan for the next year while finding a more long term answer for King/Robinson.’

Dillon, who represents the 92nd General Assembly District and lives near Mauro Sheridan, described Courcey’s transfer as ‘inexplicable.’ She said she also reached out to Negrón and got a response implying that the transfer wasn’t Negrón’s decision, but instead a result of vacancies in the district.

Courcey told the Independent Tuesday she remains ‘floored, flattered, and grateful’ for the turnout by the community advocating for her to remain at Mauro Sheridan. She said she feels bad that she will only be at King/Robinson for a year and wishes the school had someone who could be there long term.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.