Schools

Wrestling Coach Files Harassment Claim Against Oxford Board of Ed Member

Claim threatens suit against town and Board of Ed if measures aren't taken.

An alleged “pattern of harassment” by an Oxford Board of Education (BOE) member has moved high school wrestling coach Benjamin Blue to file a notice of claim against the town and BOE that might soon lead to a lawsuit.

Blue filed the claim citing board member and former assistant coach Gerard Carbonaro for harassing the coach and his family at matches and interfering with his job.

In the claim, Blue’s attorney, Steven Colarossi, states that Carbonaro has been going to wrestling matches to heckle the head coach since Carbonaro was fired from the assistant coaching position a year ago.

The claim — embedded above — also asserts that "Carbonaro’s presumed ill-feelings” are influencing Blue’s annual professional review.

Carbonaro did not return requests for comment.

“Mr. Carbonaro, upon information and belief, under the guise of being a lawful member of the Oxford Board of Education, which he is not, has engaged in a habitual and consistent pattern of harassment and intimidation of Mr. Blue (and members of his family) by, among direct and indirect actions, heckling Mr. Blue at wrestling matches,” the claim states.

Colarossi asserts that Carbonaro should not be considered a member of the BOE, as he was sworn in while still employed by the district as a coach, and cites the BOE as complicit, for allowing these actions to take place.

“School and district officials have refused to intervene to prevent a continuation of this conduct and, in fact, have apparently condoned such action,” the claim states.

Board of Ed Chairman Diane Soracco confirmed that Carbonaro is still a member of the board and is no longer employed by the district in any capacity but declined to comment further, citing personnel issues.

Parent of recent Oxford High grads and 5-year volunteer with the wrestling program Michael Mardis said he has seen Carbonaro at matches harassing Coach Blue.

“As a parent of a former wrestler and a volunteer, I can tell you this is making his life miserable,” Mardis said. [Disclosure: Mardis’ wife, Susan Kiernan, is a BOE member.] “To this day he’ll go to matches and yell at the coach and threaten to get him fired.”

Mardis said he hopes to see this come to an end and suggested Carbonaro step down or be removed from the BOE.

Colarossi (a former Norwalk Board of Education member) filed a notice of claim with the town and school district last week and is preparing to file suit with Milford Superior Court.


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