Brien McMahon teacher accused of ‘inappropriate use of electronic device’

NORWALK, Conn. – A Brien McMahon High School teacher has been suspended with pay pending a Norwalk Police investigation into an “alleged misuse of an electronic device,” Board of Education Chairman Mike Lyons said.

Lyons declined to comment further but provided a copy of a letter that was sent by BMHS Principal Suzanne Koroshetz to parents on Tuesday:

Dear Brien McMahon Families,

I am sharing information about an alleged incident currently under investigation at Brien McMahon.

A complaint involving staff member David Marchetti, a World Language teacher, was brought to my attention yesterday. The allegations were about inappropriate use of an electronic device. Given the nature of the situation, I immediately involved our School Resource Officer (SRO), the Norwalk Police Department and the Department of Children and Families.  Mr. Marchetti was placed on administrative leave while the investigation is underway. Counselors and administrators are available to talk to students.

There are many rumors circulating through word-of-mouth and social media. Please be mindful that information on the grapevine is not always accurate. Student safety remains a number one priority for Brien McMahon High School.

Please feel free to give me a call if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Principal Suzanne Brown Koroshetz

“The staff, particularly the principal at Brien McMahon, handled this in a very timely manner and the mandated reported within several minutes of learning about the situation,” Norwalk interim Superintendent of Schools James Connelly said.

The Board needs to revisit its policy in dealing with “unfortunate” events, Norwalk Federation of Teachers President Bruce Mellion said, speaking directly to Policy Committee Chairwoman Heidi Keyes at Tuesday’s BoE meeting.

“It seems that in the last 24 hours those have not been handled in the way they really should be handled,” Mellion said. “If somebody has been charged with something that’s fine. But when that hasn’t taken place, to besmirch a person’s reputation in a variety of different ways is just absolutely wrong.”