BY ALEX MALM

Wyman Elementary School Principal Ron Celio has resigned from his post according to his attorney, Jeff Sowa.

The resignation comes about a week after Superintendent Lynn Dambruch announced she would recommend the School Committee terminate Celio.

“Ron Celio has proudly and faithfully served as Principal of E.T. Wyman School for the past ten years,” a statement from Sowa reads. “He has annually received the highest possible evaluation score during his tenure.  Mr. Celio has consistently been accountable for any actions he has taken and the decisions he has made involving the school community.  Providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all students to learn has always been Mr. Celio’s top priority.”

Dambruch said that over the last month the Director of Human Resources Kim Ruggieri "led a formal investigation, reviewed by myself and our leadership team, following an incident involving Wyman Elementary School Principal Celio and the restraint of a student.”

Celio was formally placed on administrative leave on April 8 after the incident was reported.

“Our investigation concluded this incident did not follow Crisis Prevention Intervention protocol and procedure for this student scenario. Warwick Public Schools has reported this incident to both the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families and the RI Department of Education pursuant to our statutory reporting mandate,” Dambruch said in a statement last Sunday.  “This is a difficult decision but with a heavy heart, I am recommending to the Warwick School Committee that Mr. Celio be terminated from his position, The safety and well-being of every child attending Wyman Elementary School and all of our Warwick Public Schools is paramount, and my recommendation is consistent with this belief and made with our students in mind.”

Sowa said that Celio “strongly contends he acted in good faith and followed all applicable protocols and procedures during the incident in question.”

“However, in order to allow the parties to move forward with dignity, he has chosen to resign from his position at E.T. Wyman School effective immediately,” said Sowa.

In the statement Sowa said “Mr. Celio is hopeful that prospectively all building principals will be provided the required yearly crisis prevention training to ensure complete clarity with the district’s procedures and protocols.”

“He would like to express his sincerest gratitude for the significant support he has received from the staff and school community of E.T. Wyman School,” said Sowa.

A request for comment from Dambruch went unreturned at the time of publication.