Enfield School Board Divided On Anti-Discrimination Policies

ENFIELD, CT — During a vote to approve a first reading of the 5000 Policy Series at a virtual meeting Tuesday, the Enfield Board of Education split along party lines in a 4-4 vote, meaning the policies were not approved and will have to go back to committee.

"Let's not make any of this political," Republican board member Jon LeBlanc during his comments. "In today's society, it seems everything is becoming a political spectacle. And it shouldn't be that way."

Apparently, LeBlanc's colleagues did not get the memo, as all four Republican members of the board voted against the policy, while the four Democratic members were in favor.

Included in this policy series, among others, are policies pertaining to bullying, crisis management, student discipline, the treatment of students with disabilities, and a number of anti-discrimination policies to protect vulnerable students, students of color as well as students who are a part of the LGBTQ community.

"I’m confused, friends," board member Scott Ryder said. "I don’t know why the 5000 Policy didn’t pass ... I don’t know if it’s because Mr. [Chris] Rutledge left. That’s the first series of thousands that we’ve gotten through since our election back in November of 2019. It took us nine and a half months to get there. So I don’t know what the issue is. Mr. LeBlanc reminds us not to be political, but that seemed like a party vote."

After the meeting, Democrat Joyce Hall expressed similar confusion.

"My understanding was that all the changes being made that were brought to us were technical based on legislation or other changes over which we have no control," she said. "So I saw no reason not to support a first reading."

"I don’t understand why they (the Republicans) voted it down," Democrat Stacy Thurston said. "I thought it was good. Everything there was appropriate. It should have passed … I don’t see any reason why it should have been voted down."

No Republican board members articulated reasons for their opposition during discussion on the policy series nor during board member comments, leaving it unclear as to why they voted no.

The only opposition to any policy in the series came during an Aug. 10 policy committee meeting, where Board Chairman Walter Kruzel, acting as an alternate to committee member Bill Salazar, made a motion to remove Policy P5145.53, which provided protections from discrimination against transgendered students. Kruzel stood alone during that meeting in voting against the policy, while Ryder and then-committee chairman Rutledge voted to keep the policy.

Kruzel has come under fire lately, as calls for his resignation, including a petition, have intensified. Citing his vindictive treatment of other board members, his poor leadership abilities and his crass comments and insensitive actions directed towards members of the community, hundreds have signed a petition on change.org asking him to step down.

As stated on the petition, "Mr. Kruzel has a long history of demonstrating a lack of engagement with other board members as well as the Enfield residents. He displays behavior that suggests his disinterest as a Board of Education member never mind his role as the Chair.”

At a Jan. 28 board meeting, Kruzel attempted to prevent members of the community from offering comments about discrimination in the school system. His decision was overridden by the other board members after a motion, made by Rutledge, to allow public comments to continue. Later in the same meeting, while expressing frustration over the content of the comments, Kruzel stated, "It’s not our problem."

In expressing his opposition to a policy allowing for virtual public communications at an Aug. 10 policy committee meeting, Kruzel used the term "couch potatoes" to describe those who could not be physically present at a meeting to offer comments.

At a school board meeting the following night, Kruzel appeared to abdicate his sworn responsibility "to vote and act impartially in board meetings for the benefit of the school district, students and residents of the town" (per Board Policy 9012). Casting the final vote on an amendment to Superintendent Chris Drezek’s proposed school re-opening plan, Kruzel stated, "the nos have it so I'll say yes."

Rutledge resigned following the Aug. 11 meeting, and afterward expressed displeasure with the leadership ability of Kruzel and Mayor Mike Ludwick.

Contacted following Tuesday's meeting, Rutledge said, "I'm astounded. I have no idea why anyone could look at the policies in this series and vote no. These policies govern the treatment of our students, provide protections against discrimination and align our school district's policies with federal and state law. If I had still been on the board, I would have proudly voted yes."

To register for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here.