New London When middle school Assistant Principal Roland Dunham died from complications of a heart attack last month, his daughter Rayna Dunham lost her mentor, her inspiration and best friend.
She also inherited her father’s ongoing dispute with the New London school district that she said had been a heavy burden for her father and led to stress and depression for the longtime New London educator. She suspects it contributed to his death.
Roland Dunham, who died at the age of 56 on Nov. 5, had a pending complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities against New London Public Schools. His complaint alleges unfair treatment because of his disability and failure to provide reasonable accommodations for his disability, along with harassment and retaliation for his refusal take on added job responsibilities that he suspected were attempts to force him out of the district.
For years after the death of John M. Ford in 2006, fans believed as doctrinal truth the assertion that, in the wake of his having died without formal plans for the continuance of his estate, his mean-spirited surviving family members, who all hated his career and even the existence of science fiction, were conspiring to keep his works out of print, and render his legacy nonexistent. The actuality of the situation proved considerably more complicated, however, as revealed in an essay from 2019 by Isaac Butler, “The Disappearance of John M. Ford”. The whole experience should be a salutary and educational one for all of us, about being cautious concerning unsubstantiated myths and misinformation. But having now gotten over our chagrin at our gullibility, we reap the benefits of Butler’s campaign of revelations, as the works of Ford gradually return to print (including two volumes of previously unpublished stuff!). First up is what might arguably be termed Ford’s masterpiece,
The Day - New London school district mum on return of school administrator - News from southeastern Connecticut theday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
New London More than five months after he was placed on paid administrative leave, longtime New London school administrator William “Tommy” Thompson was cleared to return to work this week, the union representing him has confirmed.
Thompson, the former principal at New London High School, was the subject of an investigation by the school district for “possible unprofessional conduct and violation of Board Policies.”
The school district has declined to discuss the reason for the investigation, whether it was completed or the circumstances of Thompson’s return. The district in the past has cited the case as a personnel matter.