Parent's Peanut Policy Concerns Shot Down By Southington Schools

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local school officials appeared to briefly review the district's peanut allergy policy at the request of a concerned parent and, ultimately, opted against a total peanut ban in schools.

According to meeting minutes, Republican school board member Joseph Baczewski, who chairs the Southington Board of Education's Policy & Personnel Committee, told colleagues Dec. 14 the committee Dec. 5 opted that "Southington continue current practices" regarding peanut policies.

It appears, though, that the meeting minutes and the video of the actual Dec. 14 meeting do not align.

A video of the meeting dated Dec. 14 posted by the town shows Baczewski's report to fellow school board members as part of "committee reports," but the peanut policy is not mentioned.

All other aspects of his report indicated in the minutes are mentioned.

Baczewski is joined on the subcommittee by fellow Republican Cecil Whitehead and Democrats David J. Derynoski and Zaya G. Oshana.

Regardless, it appears Southington will continue to have "peanut-free" spaces and tables within schools, but not ban peanut products outright.

Parent Amanda Schlitten, of Aspen Way, expressed worry for her 4-year-old daughter, whose acute peanut allergy could create a life-threatening situation should she come into contact with peanut products.

Schlitten said her daughter will start kindergarten at Thalberg Elementary School next year and she is "highly allergic to peanuts."

She waited until the end of the nearly two-hour meeting on Dec. 14 to speak before the full board, the public communications portion set aside for non-agenda items.

"She is smart, witty, vivacious, and highly allergic to peanuts," Schlitten said of her daughter.

Schlitten said she was notified by school officials that the subcommittee shot down her request to look at a ban.

"I'm here to plead with the board to ensure that my daughter and many others can attend school with minimal risk of having life-threatening consequences from the food choices of others," Schlitten said in impassioned testimony to school officials.

"They have no power to stay away and/or avoid life-threatening allergens when they are permitted in their direct environment, even though we know the irreversible consequences that could be the result of allowing these food allergens in the school."

Schlitten, a former first-grade teacher for 12 years, said allowing potentially dangerous food allergens in a school is not only risky for those afflicted, it is exclusionary as well.

She said her other two children without food allergies can freely eat in the cafeteria and eat lunch with whomever they wish — but not her soon-to-be kindergartner.

Schlitten said many other school districts have banned peanuts in schools for just this reason, including Rocky Hill and Newington. Vernon also bans them.

The Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball team, even, bans them at the ballpark, a controversial move a few years ago that seems to no longer be an issue anymore.

For Schlitten, a former educator and current parent of three, pupil safety and having the same school experiences as others are key to the issue.

"Children deserve a safe learning environment to thrive and grow amongst their peers," she said. "They deserve to feel included in lunch and recess and to feel confident they don't have to shy away from a friend because of their lunch choice."

After Schlitten's comments, the board of education did not discuss or address Schlitten's concerns, which are standard protocols for school boards regarding non-agenda item comments.

Procedurally, issues are brought before a school board subcommittee, which can review and recommend action to the full board of education.

For the minutes of the Dec. 14 Southington Board of Education meeting, click on this link.