Tensions Run High at EG BoE Meeting

Tensions ran a little high at the East Granby Board of Education meeting Monday evening, as Vice Chairman Kirby Huget got into an exchange with an audience member during the tail end of public comment.

The issue arose surrounding the school board’s first reading of a change in a form that would require people to answer “yes” or “no” to a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, before they could volunteer in the schools.

If the change is implemented, then people who answer “no” on the form could be barred from volunteering in the future. Current volunteers would be grandfathered into not having to submit to the check, according to Superintendent of Schools Christine Mahoney.

During the second public comment portion at the end of the meeting, several members in the audience expressed their concern over whether the change would have a chilling effect on having people volunteer to read to classes or chaperone events.

“I don’t find it very welcoming,” said resident Bill Pitney, noting that he had been asked to read to classes before. “If I have to go through fingerprinting and fill out papers, I would have to think think about it first.”

Mahoney explained that the policy had always been in place and that the change in the form was for legal purposes, as the school board indemnifies volunteers in the event of legal actions.

“We can’t indemnify someone about something we don’t know,” Mahoney said. “If they are asked to do so [submit to a background check], then they have to do so.”

East Granby resident Dary Walsh was asking board members for further clarification when Huget abruptly moved that the meeting be adjourned. That’s when tempers rose.

“Excuse me, but to cut someone off while they are seeking clarification of a policy … to adjourn in the middle of a question is just rude,” Walsh said.

Huget replied that it was Walsh who was being rude.

“This is not a question and answer [forum],” Huget said, noting that Walsh was out of order. “It is your opportunity to comment, but this is getting out of hand.”

With that, a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and unanimously approved.