Stonington The state Office of the Child Advocate has found that school officials knew of the sexual harassment allegations against high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas from 2013 to 2017 and did not take all the steps it could to respond to the allegations before allowing him to resign after more complaints in 2019.
In a 52-page report, the office also criticizes school officials for not documenting or following up on the allegations against Chokas or placing complaints in his file, and pointed out that at least one teacher failed to report concerns about suspected abuse to the state Department of Children and Families or police as required by law.
DECA club members net 23 medals, fill three state officer positions
Cape High DECA club students delivered another strong performance in state competition Feb. 4, netting 23 medals and filling three state club officer positions. Holding their gold medals are (l-r) Dylan Roberts, Emily Racz, Molly Hudecheck and Austin Futty. ELLEN DRISCOLL PHOTO
Ellen Driscoll
Andrew Racz earned a gold medal in the automotive services marketing series. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Tia Jarvis won gold for her work in the marketing management team decision-making category. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Third-place medalist in human resource management Talia Liburdi displays her DECA swag. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Cole Schellenburger and Karla Rothstein earned gold medals in entrepreneur series and food marketing series, respectively. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Stonington The Board of Education on Thursday night decided not to approve the 2021-22 proposed budget because some members felt the 4.8% increase was too much.
Last month, Superintendent of Schools Van Riley proposed a $41.6 million budget with a $3.4 million, or 8.9%, increase from last year s budget to the board.
While the Board of Finance has recommended the school budget increase not exceed 1.5%, Riley has pointed out that the school budget has shown decreases of 0.30% and 1.32% in the past two years. Even with an 8.9% increase, he said, the three-year average increase would be 2.4%, which is the average of what had been approved in years before that and is what is needed to maintain programs.
Cape swimming strokes past Sanford
Cape senior Thomas Weeks takes off from the blocks in the first leg of the medley relay. He and teammates Josh Turek, Brian Fleming and Marcus Gromofsky took first in the event with a time of 1:49.64. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook January 19, 2021
The Cape swim teams moved to 2-0 on the season Jan. 18, topping Sanford at the Sussex Academy Aquatic Center.
The girls took a 101-21 victory, while the boys swam past the Warriors 93-62.
Cape’s 200 medley relay team of Alissa Silva, Amaya Daisey, Aya Daisey and Erin Morrissey took first with a time of 2:08.25. Heidi Simmons won the 200 free in 2:20.15. Amaya Daisey won the individual medley in 2:34.43. Aya Daisey took first in the 50 free with a time of 26.25. Aya Daisey won the 100 fly in 1:04.39. Erin Morrissey won the 100 free with a time of 1:00.62. Julie Heffernan won the 500 free in 6:07.35. Daisey, Daisey, Morrissey and Anna Sullivan won the 200 free relay in 1:59.99.
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