The Saugerties Central School District’s (SCSD) internal investigation into numerous staff-student issues has passed a crucial step, though trustees on the board of education cautioned that there is still no specific timetable as to when a report will be completed.
“The investigation is not complete,” said board president Jeffrey Riozzi, who added that the investigator had completed interviews, with 39 of 40 people on her list agreeing to sit down for a chat.
“One thing she did share with us was that everyone who she talked to was extremely cooperative and forthcoming with information,” Riozzi said.
It began with the July arrest of former Saugerties High School wrestling coach and custodian Reid Kappler, who was charged with 18 counts of third-degree felony rape of two girls between the ages of 15 and 16 between 2023 and 2024. District officials spent much of the summer responding to the arrest, including opening its own internal investigation by an independent contractor.
On Friday, July 25, the school board held an emergency executive session, its sole purpose to authorize the hiring of an unnamed independent investigator at a rate of $150 per hour, and the law firm of Gurcio and Gurcio at a rate of $250 per hour, to investigate and file an advisory report in an “employment-related matter.”
In a statement later that day, Riozzi detailed the purpose of the investigation, including following up on complaints of inappropriate behavior, reviewing related policies and procedures and delivering a comprehensive report. Though they did not name the investigator, the district assured the community that she had a background in criminal investigation prior to narrowing her focus on schools, and has conducted numerous investigations ranging from “serious sports hazing incidents to sexual harassment.” The investigator is not from Saugerties and has no ties to the community, officials said, giving her an opportunity to conduct an unbiased review.
In September, the school board voted 8-0 to place superintendent Daniel Erceg on paid administrative leave, effective immediately.
“This decision was made to support the board’s commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent and impartial internal investigation related to the district’s handling of and response to a serious complaint involving a former employee,” said Riozzi in a press release. “Once the board has reviewed the findings and recommendations, decisions about next steps can be made. Until then, it would be premature to speculate.”
Since then, Erceg’s status has not been discussed at a school board meeting and deputy superintendent Gwendolyn Roraback remains in place as acting superintendent. At last week’s school board meeting, Roraback sought to bring the SCSD community together.
“These have been challenging times for our district,” she said. “Change and uncertainty can bring feelings of unease, frustration and even doubt. But in moments like these I’m reminded of something powerful: The strength, heart and resilience that define the Sawyer spirit. Despite what we might hear or read in the headlines, on social media, or through word of mouth, the truth of who we are lives in our classrooms, our hallways and our community spaces. It lives in our students in their creativity, their leadership and kindness.”
From the beginning, Riozzi said that in order to be completed thoroughly, the investigation had no timetable. Last week, he said that could happen soon.
“We are near the tail end,” he said. “When we have the report, we have reviewed the report and the recommendations and things like that. And when our lawyers have said, ‘Here’s what you can share and can’t share,’ it will be made available to the public.”
Riozzi added that an ongoing conversation with the investigator had already revealed some recommendations; others have come through an open dialogue with the larger SCSD community.
“The majority of things that came in and we went and looked at them, and they were already fixed,” he said. “Our staff did exactly what they were supposed to be doing…Now, did the particular person who raised the issue get the exact answer they wanted? Maybe not. But our staff followed procedure, followed protocol and did what they had to do.”
He added that the past few months have been rife with disinformation and frustration, particularly since an informational meeting at the Frank D. Greco Memorial Senior Center.
“And since that day, it has basically been open season on our administrators and our teachers,” Riozzi said. “We have certain duties as a board, but because we opened up communication and we said people email us about anything, it was kind of on us to make sure those things were being taken care of or had been taken care of…So if anybody has any questions on the investigation, whether that be a parent, a community member, a teacher; feel free to email me and I will let you know where we’re at and what I can share with you.
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