Angelina Pilon, who moved from Ontario to work as assistant superintendent of programs for the School District of Mystery Lake beginning in August, has resigned from her position after an investigation by the school district's board of trustees effective Dec. 14.
According to a school board public announcement, Pilon made a formal written complaint against Beverly Hammond, superintendent of the school district, on Oct. 30.
"The complaint consisted of 15 pages, largely single spaced, of specific allegations," reads the announcement. "The allegations were serious, and referenced specific things that were alleged to have happened on specific days; some were alleged to have happened in the presence of or to other individuals, who were identified by Ms. Pilon."
"The board took Ms. Pilon's accusations seriously and investigated. A committee interviewed a large number of witnesses, including people named by Ms. Pilon as having witnessed the alleged events. As a result, the committee concluded that Ms. Pilon's allegations were false. Ms. Pilon has retracted her complaints, apologized to Superintendent Hammond and the board, and agreed to resign from her position as assistant superintendent, effective immediately."
School board chair Rob Pellizzaro said that the statement had been approved by both the district and by Pilon, and that the search for a new assistant superintendent would likely commence right after the holiday season, with the potential for a hiring to be made before the end of the school year.
Superintendents and assistant superintendents have come and gone locally at a brisk pace in recent years. The husband-and-wife team of Bruce Waldie and Christelle Waldie were hired prior to the 2009-2010 school year, but Bruce Waldie was fired just before Christmas last year. Christelle Waldie left voluntarily six months later at the end of the last school year.
Hugh Fraser, a longtime teacher and administrator with the school district, was coaxed out of retirement in 2007 to work as assistant superintendent, later moving to the top position before re-retiring this past summer to make way for Hammond.
