MIDDLETOWN \u2013 Middletown School Superintendent Amy Creeden has been cleared of wrongdoing in a federal disability complaint, according to an internal investigation.<\/p>\n
Creeden has been on leave since September.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased to see this investigatory report finally become public,\u201d said Greg Berck, Creeden\u2019s attorney. Berck added that Creeden has not been provided access to this report despite numerous requests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were confident the investigation would confirm the truth, and school district counsel repeatedly informed us that Mrs. Creeden was vindicated,\u201d Berck added.<\/p>\n
The 19-page report was put together by upstate law firm Ferrara Fiorenza PC, which was hired by the Middletown Board of Education after a district employee filed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint against Creeden. She was named superintendent in March 2022 after serving as interim for five months.<\/p>\n
In November, the Middletown Board of Education (BOE) rejected a motion to return Creeden to her position on Dec. 1 by a 5\u20134 vote. Her future with the district remains unclear.<\/p>\n
Camille Adoma was named acting superintendent by the BOE in September. She has served as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction since 2021 and previously was principal of Twin Towers Middle School.<\/p>\n
Berck said that the BOE requested that Creeden prepare a reentry plan to return to work in late November or early Creeden provided this plan the same day, her counsel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite her immediate compliance and clear readiness to return, the Board never responded and failed to follow through on that commitment,\u201d Berck added. \u201cWe have received no explanation for why Mrs. Creeden was placed on involuntary personal leave, particularly given that in prior situations involving complaints against district leadership and senior administrators, individuals remained in their positions during investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The complaint alleged the superintendent failed to adequately accommodate a district employee coping with the death of a spouse and ongoing medical issues, raising concerns about potential violations of federal disability law.<\/p>\n
However, investigators found no evidence that Creeden violated the law or retaliated against the employee. The report states the employee received reasonable accommodations and that, while the process was not perfect, it met the standards required under the ADA. As part of the probe, 19 people in the district, including Creeden, were interviewed.<\/p>\n
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a 1990 civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and guarantees equal access in employment, education, transportation, and public and private spaces, similar to protections based on race or sex.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are at a loss as to why Mrs. Creeden remains on involuntary personal leave,\u201d Berck said. \u201cShe has dedicated a quarter of a century to Middletown and cares deeply about the students, staff, and community she has served. She is committed to a resolution that serves the best interests of all parties and allows everyone to move forward. We appreciate the four Board members who have supported Mrs. Creeden\u2019s return and hope the full Board will work toward a fair resolution. The community deserves transparency and thoughtful leadership during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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