North Branford Educator Allowed Kids To 'Slap-Box': Report

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — A paraprofessional at North Branford Intermediate School has resigned following allegations that she allowed students to "slap-box" during a study hall, The New Haven Register reported. Police investigated the incident, which did not result in any injury, and closed the case without pressing charges.

The paraprofessional, Lauren Munro, served as the town's Parks & Recreation director before resigning in June. Munro is alleged to have allowed students to slap-box, similar to boxing but with open hands, at the end of a class, which a parent later told the school's principal about, according to The Register.

Munro previously resigned her job as parks director following an ongoing dispute with members of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Munro and others had accused commission members of micromanagement.

In June of 2019, Murno submitted her "retirement letter" to the Town Council, Patch's Jack Kramer reported at the time. At the same June 2019 meeting, the council accepted the resignation of Brian Lynch and Victor Palma from the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The exact reason for the dispute between the members and the director wasn't clear, but in the minutes of the council meeting, Lynch is attributed as saying the following: "We are not there to supervise and micromanage the director. Some of the members have reached far beyond what the conception of the commission is."

Lynch goes on, according to meeting minutes: "They reach out to her on a daily office, text, email and show up at her office, which hinders her from doing her job."

Lynch said his pleas to his fellow board members to "stop micromanaging her were disregarded."
Lynch said there are three members of the Park and Recreation Commission who have been working in collaboration "in sync" and with the purpose of "blindsighting."

North Branford Mayor Michael Doody has said in the summer of 2019 that "Lauren does a fantastic job and this needs to be resolved." Munro told the board back in the summer of 2019 "that she is not able to stay under the current conditions." Munro did add, however, she would reconsider if the issue(s) if the Park and Rec members could be resolved, according to meeting minutes.

Munro, a North Branford native, was promoted to recreation director in 2015, according to an article by Zip06. Before being named director she served as program supervisor for 13 years.

>>>Read the full New Haven Register story here.

With reporting by Jack Kramer