Op Ed: Latest with Guilford’s Toxicity

by Ken Svengalis

Editor’s note: this article has been condensed from its original length.

For more than three years, Guilford, CT has been mired in an ideological controversy from Superintendent Paul Freeman, and the Board of Education. The core issue is whether a political majority can impose this toxic ideology upon students and, in the process, violate state laws mandating both administrators and teachers “provide access to all points of view without deliberate distortion of subject matter.”? The answer should be “NO,” but the Left is emboldened.

This toxic atmosphere has infested law enforcement and town management too. First selectman, Matt Hoey, superintendent, Paul Freeman and then-police chief, Warren Hyatt—formed a united front to stifle dissent and punish those who protested the bullying of their children, or took exception to indoctrination. One mother who protested the bullying of her children was called “a dog with a bone” by Hoey. In 2021, the children of the Republican candidates for the Guilford BOE were singled out for bullying; some teachers turned a blind eye, and the administration sat on its hands.

Gas Mask Incident

In April 2022, a student wore a gas mask to the high school. Some students took photos and reposted them online. However, only one of these students, the son of Republican BOE candidate Bill Maisano, filed a police report. Under Freeman’s administration, however, most students are afraid to get involved in controversy for fear of being singled out. 

Attempts to obtain copies of the police report were denied by the police chief. Particularly outrageous, however, was suggesting Maisano’s son could be charged with filing a false police report. 

Wearing a gas mask to school is a threatening act deserving of a threat assessment, particularly when the student talked about “killing the Jews.” This was a clear warning sign, and it should have warranted appropriate counseling. Sadly, the Guilford Courier and other outlets downplayed the incident, and echoed the statements of Superintendent Freeman, “no credible threat existed.” 

The threat was serious enough to warrant evaluation apart from any personal thoughts from the student who filed. On corroboration, Paul Freeman has a habit of inflating what he believes are the “successes” of his radical agenda and dismissing the negative consequences to school safety.

Read the rest here.