LETTER: Enfield School Board Members Should Set a Better Example

I sent this letter to the Board of Education on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 after watching the Tuesday meeting. As of Friday ,October 5, 2020, the only members who have responded to me are Mr. Longey, Tina LeBlanc, Jonathan LeBlanc and Scott Ryder.

Hello,

For those of you who know me, you know that I watch each BOE meeting. For those of you who don’t, I have 3 kids in the school system, at Whitney, JFK and EHS. My oldest also attends GHAA half day.

First, Mr. Drezek and Mr. Longey, excellent job navigating the past 7 months. You have followed the science and the professionals, handled this situation to the best of your abilities, and have responded to 100% of my questions. For this I am beyond appreciative.

Tina and Scott, the two of you have been amazing keeping people informed and answering questions (sometimes the same questions over and over) with professionalism and a positive attitude.

To the 5 of you who would not wear a mask at the last meeting… What the HECK are you thinking? You are supposed to be the role models for this town and these students. I don’t care what your personal beliefs are or if you think the sun rises and sets in Trump’s orange hair. Walter you coughed throughout that meeting and did not have a mask on. That is disrespectful to each of the other people in that room, and to all of the families who are following the rules and keeping their kids in masks. I don’t care if there was 6 feet between you. Big picture is you are supposed to be the leaders. Lead by example. If you need to take the mask off to speak into the microphone, so be it, but put it back on and suck it up. If our 3-4 year olds can do it, our middle school kids and our high school kids. Be an example. Right now you are a joke of an example. The fact that you could not bother to put on a mask disgusts me and many others. This is the BOARD OF EDUCATION… Not the Republicans and the Democrats. The disrespect is disgusting that 5 of you showed that night.

And I am independent… so I don’t give a rat’s butt who is left or right… all I care is that you are doing what is best for the kids. And last night all 5 of you did was what was best to be partisan. You are an insult to each teacher and administrator in the school system busting their butts during this pandemic. Cut it off with the political crap, be an adult, and lead by example. Children watch these meeting too.

With regard to Mr. LeBlanc. PLEASE for the sake of all that is holy let me know you actually care about the education of the kids and not just whether or not they can play football. All I have heard you say is “Let them play.” if you cared about all the kids and not just the athletes, you might also say “let them rehearse, let them sing, let them play chess.” But ultimately none of that is EDUCATION. While plenty can be learned on a field, stage, it is not part of educating our children. Please worry a little less about what happens on the field and a little more about what happens in the classroom. You have become a one note wonder talking about football. Additionally telling people you did your research on something and asked “1 teacher and 1 of your baseball kids” about something… is not really research… that is chatting in line at the grocery store.

And now, because of your short sighted thinking, you want to take out language that would protect trans and non-gender conforming kids, and in doing so, are taking out policies that protect kids in staff in other situations. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE. This is supposed to be “Enfield, Every Student, Every Day” NOT … “Enfield, Every straight white student who plays a sport, every day” You do not have to agree with the lifestyle of a student. You DO have to protect them though. Your bigotry, and homophobia is shining through. I want to know from EACH ONE OF YOU who voted against it… WHY you don’t want to protect kids that are transgender or non-conforming. Really… tell me. And if you don’t respond, I will continue to email you and speak out at meetings, and asking in newspaper editorials, just why there are only certain kids in our schools that you feel should be protected, and who should not.

I want to hear back from all of you. (Chris and Andy don’t worry about it… you are just cc’d… and you are busy). The rest of you:

1) Why don’t you feel the need to protect all the students of Enfield?

2) Why do you not feel the need to set a good example and wear a mask (particularly “Sir Coughs a Lot" Kruzel)?

3) Why is football more important than the education they are getting, and if it is not, what you are going to do, to make sure all kids who are missing their activities… be they athletic, arts, or intellectual feel supported in what they are missing.

4) Why you would take anti-discrimination language out? Which basically states you feel discrimination is fine. And I want to know why.I want each of you to respond to me. In detail and not, “Thank you for your email your comments are so noted.”

Mr. LeBlanc did respond that education is number one of his concerns. He also pointed out that I didn’t correctly relay his comments from the meeting. He explained that his research was with regard to the requirements for different sports from Connecticut Department of Public Health. When he spoke about talking to one teacher and a baseball player it was with regard to how students and staff were following guidelines laid out by administration.

I responded to him by apologizing for my misinterpretation, and also explaining that he would need to speak with more than one teacher and one baseball player to have a clear understanding of the school climate. I also further suggested that if he is concerned, he may want to provide an example and be a role model for the kids he coaches and wear a mask during meetings.

I understand that the policy information that I referred to above will be discussed again in the policy subcommittee which includes Mr. Salazar, Mr. Unghire and Mr. Ryder. Mr. Salazar and Mr. Unghire want to take policy language out that both CABE and our Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Longey have suggested stay in to protect our kids. Please watch the last meeting and speak up. Thank you.

Trish Neild Barry
Enfield

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