DURHAM — The chair of the Durham-Middlefield Board of Education has stepped down from her leadership role amid calls for her full resignation for alleged 'unethical' behavior reportedly involving disparaging comments about student athletes, their parents and school board members.
Lindsay Dahlheimer announced in a letter Monday she will remain on the Regional School District 13 board until her term ends in December.
“Given the immense work the board has to do, I do not want my serving as chair to distract the board from the work that we must do together,” she wrote.
Anthony DeFilio, head coach of Coginchaug High School’s football team, is suing Dahlheimer and her husband Michael for allegedly making “malicious,” “baseless” and “false” complaints against his “improper” treatment of student athletes in his care, according to court documents.
DeFilio, who became head of the team in 2023, filed the complaint June 16 in Superior Court in Middletown.
Investigations by the district administrators and the state Department of Children and Families determined Dahlheimer's complaints were "without basis," and "unsubstantiated."
Last month, Board of Education members voted to provide Dahlheimer legal protection. The court case is still pending.
Since the spring, District 13 has experienced a number of top leadership changes.
Former superintendent Doug Schuch retired March 31. He and the board issued a joint statement at the time, saying they agreed “this is an appropriate time to make way for new leadership,” however, no further details were released.
Patricia Charles, who led Middletown Public Schools from 2012-17, was hired as interim schools chief. She was succeeded July 1 by current Superintendent Sydney Leggett.
“Leggett’s strength, empathy, and forward-thinking vision will guide the district through the comprehensive strategic plan process, driving continued growth in both student achievement and community belonging, which is pivotal to the long-term success of District 13,” Dahlheimer's letter continued.
“I remain fully committed to fulfilling the rest of my term,” she explained, "and will continue to be actively engaged in the board’s work until December.”
She has “full confidence” Leggett will work “tirelessly to address the serious issues ahead with full steam,” the letter says.
With the new academic year, Dahlheimer wrote, the district is at a “pivotal moment; one that calls for both determination and unity.
"The year ahead will bring immense work: launching a vital strategic plan process, advancing through the next phases of the Memorial School construction project, and continuing to strengthen our schools for every student,” she noted.
Over the past two years, she continued, district leadership and BOE members have achieved “extraordinary milestones together,” including “aligning our grade levels for the first time in the district’s history," obtaining state funding for the Memorial School renovation, and completion of the state-of-the art sports complex.
A change.org petition created a month ago, “Resign as RSD13 Board of Education Chair and member," has obtained 423 of its 450-signature goal.
In the letter, Dahlheimer said serious issues involving her family played into her decision. “As a mother, my first responsibility is to protect, defend, and care for my family, and right now that requires my full attention.”
Her children, she said, have been the subject of “relentless bullying, harassment, and retaliation from both peers and adults in our school community," since last September, "which led to the administration’s decision to outplace them to another local district."
She alleges her children have been “publicly named, speculated about, threatened, harassed and bullied on these platforms by both adults and children, even to the point of having their bus route posted online ...”
As a regular board member, Dahlheimer added, her “commitment to the truth and progress will remain at the center of everything I do.”
Leggett did not respond to multiple requests for comment.