Emails Concerning Enfield 'Pizza Sex Assignment' Made Public Via FOIA

ENFIELD, CT — Public communication at Monday's Enfield Town Council meeting was dominated by the reading of several emails to and/or from some elected officials regarding the recent "pizza sex lesson" controversy at John F. Kennedy Middle School, as well as some containing derogatory remarks about Superintendent of Schools Chris Drezek.

The emails — directed to or from Board of Education members Janet Cushman, Jean Acree and John Unghire and councilor Mike Ludwick — became public information with the filing of a Freedom of Information Act request on Feb. 23 by an organization called Five Stones Venture Inc. The request sought all emails involving Drezek and/or the nine school board members, dated from Oct. 1, 2021, to Feb. 23, 2022, and containing keywords such as "social and emotional learning," "SEL," "diversity, equity, and inclusion," "sexual education," "pizza and consent," "Al Vernacchio," "ESSER," "privilege," "white privilege," "white fragility," "transformative," "liberation" and "pizza assignment."

Controversy erupted in early February when eighth grade Family Health and Human Sexuality students at the middle school received an assignment called "Pizza and Consent." Brie Quartin, health and physical education coordinator for Enfield Public Schools, said the assignment was "mistakenly posted" on the school's grade eight curriculum page.

Despite assurances from Drezek that the distribution of the assignment "was a mistake" that was immediately reported to officials by the teacher involved, many concerned residents have flooded school officials with emails personally attacking — and, in some cases, bordering on threatening — Drezek and others. Patch has obtained many of the emails, including some that were brought to the attention of the Enfield Police Department.

An email Drezek received Feb. 10 from Steven Cotter included, "Your smile is deviant, like you've been pedophiled in the past, which would make sense why you're attracted to schools and making excuses. Pedophiles need to be prosecuted and executed globally. You have no spine, and no [testicles], and you're an enemy of God and children. You should have better discernment. You are a weak [slur for homosexual men]."

Cotter did not respond to an email from Patch seeking further comment.

Another email dated the same day from Cliff Nonnenmacher read, "Teachers officially have a lower respect rating than politicians and used car salespeople! What the hell happened to your profession? Teachers dominate the news with their indoctrination and stupidity. Please fire the Pizza teacher!"

A Feb. 11 email from Jacqueline Wozniak to Ludwick read, "Your superintendent has stated on the news that this assignment was a 'terrible mistake.' This perverted man is a terrible mistake to your school district! I certainly hope he is fired. It would be a blessing to your district." Ludwick forwarded that note to Cushman and Unghire.

Tracey Jarvis, pastor of New Day Church on King Street, sent a note to the congregation which stated in part, "I want to personally invite you to war against hyper sexualizing our children."

Jarvis serves on several town committees, including co-chair of the Enfield Together Coalition. Resident Gina Sullivan, who read Jarvis' note at the meeting, asked the council to remove her from any town board.

Board of Education chair Tina LeBlanc would not comment when reached by Patch.