MIDDLETOWN — Superintendent Alberto Vázquez Matos was placed on administrative leave late Thursday by the Board of Education, four months after he was charged with driving under the influence in Florida.
The board called a special meeting after CT Insider reported Monday that records from the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts in Florida show that Vázquez Matos, 51, was cited by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on July 29 for driving under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
The board went into executive session for almost three hours before voting to put Vázquez Matos on administrative leave.
Board member Harold Panciera made a motion to appoint Board of Education Chair Chris Cardella to work with the Common Council to determine the next steps regarding Vázquez Matos, confirm in writing the terms of his administrative leave, and serve as the board’s spokesperson on matters related to Vázquez Matos’ employment. The board unanimously supported the motion.
It's unclear when the school board learned of Vázquez Matos’ arrest. Cardella did not make additional comments on the matter but said he might do so in the coming days.
In addition, the school board assigned central office staff to perform the duties of acting superintendent.
"They're going to continue to act and enforce their continued official roles within central office and continue the business of central office and Middletown Public Schools,” Cardella said.
Vázquez Matos came to Middletown in 2021 as chief academic officer. He began serving as acting superintendent in October 2021 before he was named superintendent by the Board of Education in 2022.
Prior to joining Middletown, he was asked to step down after less than a year from his previous job as the receiver-superintendent of Holyoke Public Schools in Massachusetts, according to a separation agreement. Vazquez-Matos received a $102,500 severance — half of his first year’s salary, the agreement stated.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Middletown school district said the district would not comment about Vázquez Matos because the district “does not comment on individual personnel matters.” But the board scheduled the special meeting not long after.
According to the sheriff office's citation, the July 29 incident occurred around 11:25 p.m., and Vázquez Matos refused to take a breathalyzer test to determine his blood-alcohol content. Court documents also indicate Vázquez Matos was cited for possessing more than one valid driver’s license — one issued in Connecticut and another in Florida.
Records show that Vázquez Matos pleaded not guilty to the charges and that he was released from custody after posting bonds totaling $650.
Crystal Elescano is the education and Latino communites reporter at the Record Journal. She earned her BA in Journalism at the University of Connecticut and is set to earn her MA in Latino/a and Latin American Studies at UConn's El Instituto in May 2024. She has been part of the Record Journal’s Latino Communities Reporting Lab since June 2021, where she started as an intern. When she’s not writing, Crystal enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and watching telenovelas.