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Public commenters urge more neurodiversity supports and one security officer per elementary school
Summary
During public comment at the April 8 Wethersfield Board of Education meeting, residents urged the district to expand neurodiversity training, inclusive practices and to fund one security staff member at each elementary school instead of the three proposed in the budget.
Speakers at the April 8 meeting asked the board to strengthen supports for neurodiverse students and to fund five elementary-school security positions.
Megan (last name not specified), a resident, urged the board to prioritize “meaningful neurodiversity training for all town staff, educators, program leaders, and administrators,” saying punitive approaches and exclusionary discipline harm children with autism, ADHD and other developmental differences. Megan said when adults focus “only on compliance rather than understanding the child's needs, we end up punishing kids for having a disability instead of supporting them.”
Jennifer Curry, identified as a resident at 162 Bridal Hill and an educator, urged the board to fund one security staff member at each of the five elementary schools. Curry said the proposed budget had reduced an initial plan for five positions to three and described a recent playground incident involving a second grader to illustrate why each elementary school should have a dedicated security presence. She said security personnel — frequently retired officers in other districts — provide de-escalation training, familiarity with students and an on-site presence during drop-off, pick-up and recess.
Board members acknowledged the public comments and noted the policy committee is bringing two revised policies to the board for first read: revised Policy 1,400 (school security and safety) and revised Policy 1,600 (visitors and observations in school). Matt Lacovole, speaking for the policy and planning committee, said the revisions relate to requirements from public acts and general state statutes and to matters such as which district employees are designated to interact with immigration authorities and an updated district security-and-safety plan.
Why it matters: commenters asked the board to adopt training and staffing measures that would affect day-to-day student supports and safety at elementary schools; both the security staffing issue and the policy revisions could affect staffing, budgets and daily operations if adopted.
Ending: Board members said the policies are at first-reading stage and that the district will continue to gather information; the board did not take a vote on funding additional security positions at the April 8 meeting.
