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SHIPMAN & GOODWIN LLp'" COUNSELORS
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TO:
Mrs. Mary Cortright
FROM:
Tom Mooney, Glen Lamontagne and David Roy
RE:
Submission of Documents to the State Department of Education concerning Amy Gilchrist's Application for a Coaching Permit
DATE:
February 13, 2009
INTRODUCTION: The Meriden Public Schools have learned that the State Department of Education is reviewing the submission of apparently-falsified documents to the State Department of Education on behalf of Amy Gilchrist, a physical education teacher employed by the school district. At your request, Mr. Glen Lamontagne, Mr. David Roy and I have conducted an investigation into this matter. As set forth below, we conclude that Ms. Gilchrist did not submit the documents in question, and we also conclude that Ms. Gilchrist neither requested nor was aware that such falsified documents were submitted on her behal f. I.
FINDINGS OF FACT:
1. Amy Gilchrist is a physical education teacher at Maloney High School. and prior to the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, she applied for the additional position of girls field hockey head coach. Ms. Gilchrist had not previously served as an athletic coach. 2. Bruce Golden, the Athletic Director at Maloney High School, interviewed Ms. Gilchrist shortly before the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. During the interview for the position of girls tield hockey head coach, Mr. Golden asked Ms. Gilchrist to till out an application for a Five- Year Renewable Coaching Permit (Form ED-18S" and he asked whether she had Red Cross certification. Ms. Gilchrist stated that she did, but that she did not have her cards with her. She asked Mr. Golden if she could scan the cards and email them to him. At the time, there was discussion of whether Mr. Golden knew how to download attachments, and Ms. Gilchrist told him that she would ask another Maloney High School teacher/athletic coach, Bethany Dare, to assist him if necessary. Ms. Dare has separately verified that Ms. Gilchrist did call her at that time and made that request of her.