Westport Principal, Staff Return After Review Of 'Allegations'

WESTPORT, CT — School officials announced Monday that Kings Highway Elementary School Principal Mary Lou DiBella and four other educators have returned to their duties after being put on administrative leave in January for unspecified allegations.

"Dr. Mary Lou DiBella and four other educators have returned to their duties serving the students, parents, and faculty of KHS," Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Anthony Buono said in an email to parents. "They had been on administrative leave without prejudice following allegations that were thoroughly addressed through a comprehensive review process."

According to Buono, school officials decided "without hesitation" to return the educators to the school immediately after receiving the results of this review process.

"In circumstances such as these, the school community often has more questions than we are legally permitted to answer due to confidentiality rules imposed by federal and state law," Buono said. "Similarly, our educators who had been on leave cannot directly respond to or discuss allegations. However, I can assure you that when we restore staff members to work who have been on leave during a review process, we do so based on our trust and confidence in those individuals."