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Parents and residents press board over contested book, allege state law noncompliance
Summary
Several residents urged the Buchanan Board of Education to respond to a controversy over a widely discussed book and raised formal complaints alleging the district is not following Connecticut statutes on curriculum, opt‑out policy, committee membership and textbook changes.
Several residents used the public‑comment period at the Dec. 16 Buchanan Board of Education meeting to press the district on a disputed book and to deliver a written request that the board document alleged violations of Connecticut law.
“...this just happened. I am not talking to a wall,” resident Mary Ann Knog said, recounting conversations with other community members who told her they supported her earlier public remarks about the book controversy. Knog said she contacted the book's publisher about producing an alternative edition.
Julia Farber of Sagamore Trail delivered a formal written request and asked the board to “review for review” several issues she said show noncompliance with state law. Farber listed the absence of a curriculum committee, an unaddressed opt‑out request submitted Nov. 4 by Elena Colarusso, and exclusion of parents from the curriculum and safety committees. She also cited what she described as statutory requirements for textbook changes and a publicly posted profile report, asking the board to explain “what are we paying for?” and to provide documentation and a public presentation on March 3, 2025.
“Given the issues outlined above, I would like to ask the following. What are we paying for? What is the role of the legal counsel?” Farber said, and stated she would escalate the matter to the State Board of Education if the district did not respond.
Not all speakers were critical. Mary Sue Ruchi, who said she attended New Canaan schools from kindergarten through high school, praised the district and its educators and defended the review process, noting that the book at issue has received national awards and professional recognition.
The board received the public comments during the meeting and did not take immediate formal action on the requests. Superintendent Dr. Lutzky and other administrators did not announce a response at the meeting; Julia Farber said she would follow up with supporting documentation by email.
Authorities referenced in public comments are recorded below. The board agreed to move on to its agenda items; no formal staff report or corrective action was presented during the meeting on Dec. 16.
