Principal In Middletown Back At His Desk After Short 'Leave'

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Beman Middle School principal was back at work Monday after a short stint on administrative leave.

No explanation was given, and no discipline was mentioned by school system officials in Middletown.

Ray Byron was placed on leave on Feb, 29 and students had staged a walkout in support of him after the action.

Middletown Superintendent of School Alberto Vázquez Matos quickly reacted with a statement that the move was a "personnel matter." Had it been discipline, he would have been required to share details via state Freedom of Information law.

"As you might be aware, the Middletown Public Schools considers personnel matters to be confidential in nature. As such, we cannot share any information beyond the fact that Mr. Byron has not been terminated or disciplined by the Middletown Public Schools," Matos said.

Hate-based posting had been found in a school bathroom "on repeated occasions," Matos said. He described them as anti-Semitic symbols like swastikas, along with vandalism.

Matos said administrators have been working with the Middletown Police Department to investigate the incidents.

Resources have been added to the school system website, he said.