State Board finds Colebrook bullying investigation was not thorough and fair

What happened

Colebrook’s September 15 minutes report that the State Board accepted a finding that the bullying investigation was not thorough and fair; the superintendent said State Board-recommended districtwide training was scheduled for the next day. The family also requested $40,000 in attorney fees and warned it may take the matter to Superior Court if denied.

Why it matters to families

The appeal documents a significant procedural failure and districtwide corrective training, while the family’s reimbursement demand and stated litigation threat create unresolved legal and operational exposure. The minutes do not establish that bullying itself was ultimately found to have occurred.

The evidence

The September 15, 2026 minutes state that the State Board accepted the finding that the investigation was not thorough and fair; they describe a separate recommendation concerning whether the record proved bullying, which the State Board rejected after the family’s oral statement. The superintendent reported that districtwide training recommended by the State Board was planned for the next day. The family requested $40,000 in legal fees and said it was prepared to take the issue to Superior Court if the request was denied (document 96879).

The source