Failed BOE Candidates Sue School Board, Supt. Saying CRT Being Taught

GUILFORD, CT —A federal lawsuit filed against Guilford schools by failed Republican Board of Education candidates alleges schools' have discriminated against their families and school-age children "after the parents opposed the implementation of critical race theory."

Named in the U.S. District Court suit funded by We The Patriots USA through donation requests, Guilford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Freeman said the district "categorically rejects the false assertions and personal attacks set forth in the complaint against the teachers, administrators, and Board members who serve the Guilford education community."

Freeman said in a statement that once all the facts come to light in the case, he expects it to be dismissed.

"Guilford schools do not teach intolerance for differing perspectives as alleged," he said. "Rather, we teach students about the inherent worth of all persons and the need to promote equity and inclusion of all students irrespective of their race, religion, economic circumstances, or other factors."

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 7 in federal court in New Haven, alleges that a child of one of the candidates and a plaintiff in the case, was allegedly "sexually assaulted at school on December 16, 2021, as part of a continued campaign of harassment he endured in retaliation for his mother's vocal opposition to CRT in the schools." The only female named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit is Danielle Scarpellini.

Norm Pattis, who represents Alex Jones in Sandy Hook cases, is the attorney for the plaintiffs.

In a tweet, We The Patriots noted that it's "confident this case will expose the sinister indoctrination in Guilford Public Schools & schools across the country."

And it's asking supporters to pay for the lawsuit.

"We still are in great need of your generous donations to support this litigation," the group, with around 500 followers on Twitter, wrote. "We hope to set precedent with this lawsuit that will dismantle CRT-based curriculum throughout the country."

Lawsuit plaintiffs Scarpellini, Bill Maisano, and Tim Chamberlain are three of the five candidates who lost the BOE election in 2021. Running on the Parents for Guilford Children platform, the GOP candidates asserted that critical race theory was being taught in Guilford classrooms. Freeman has said repeatedly CRT is not being taught in schools. The Republicans' campaign chair garnered national attention for a racist comment on a UConn Zoom meeting. Chair Mary Beeman said, "Helping kids of color to feel they belong has a negative effect on white, Christian, or conservative kids," in a forum about CRT.

After the election loss, the group posted on their Facebook page:

"Our five republican candidates lost the BOE election. But the biggest losers are the children in Guilford."

In the 27-page complaint, it's alleged that the plaintiffs and their families suffered "retaliation, compelled speech, and religious discrimination" and "emotional distress."

"We are prepared to take this lawsuit all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where we expect to win a victory for all parents who bravely continue to exercise their freedoms of religion and speech," Brian Festa of We The Patriots USA said in a news release.

Being sued are the Guilford Board of Education, Freeman, and a number of school administrators and educators.

"Guilford Public Schools will not try this case in the press, and cannot, due to our responsibility to protect the privacy of students involved in the case," Freeman said in a statement posted on the district website. "We will vigorously defend against the unwarranted attacks against our teachers, administrators, and Board members in the proper forum – federal court. When the facts are established through such proceedings, we are confident that the court will dismiss this complaint as without merit. In the meantime, we are committed to assuring the safety of and respect for all students, irrespective of their political views or those of their parents."

Read the complaint here:

CRT case v GPS by Ellyn Santiago

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Thursday, State Sen. Christine Cohen of Guilford shared her thoughts.