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Public debate at Southington board over proposed high school archery unit
Summary
The Southington School Board heard multiple public speakers in favor of an indoor archery unit and one prominent safety objection from a security professional, while the curriculum committee listed the archery proposal as a first read. Board members deferred detailed questions to the committee and asked members to review materials ahead of the next meeting.
The Southington School Board on Monday heard competing public views on a proposed indoor archery unit for Southington High School, with several physical-education professionals urging the program and a school security staff member warning of safety risks.
Tony Loomis, of 70 Russell Road, said he supported the archery activity and described his experience as a physical education teacher for more than two decades. "Student safety is our number 1 priority," Loomis said, adding that archery can "enhance a student's life" when teachers apply standard safety procedures.
Lisa Galski, a PE teacher and former Connecticut Association for Health and Physical Educators executive director, said the activity "is a safe activity as he said if all the parameters are set in place," and called it a way to engage students who are not served by traditional team sports. Amy Gagnon told the board the unit "levels the playing field" and described archery as a lifetime activity that offers inclusion for students who are not "good movers."
By contrast, Antonio Casano, who identified himself as a retired law enforcement and security professional and said he serves on the high school security staff, urged the board and curriculum team to conduct "a comprehensive review of the program, its risks, and its alignment with existing policies." Casano argued that "bows and arrows... are weapons with the capacity of launching projectiles capable of causing serious bodily harm up to and including death" and said gymnasiums are not designed to contain projectiles.
The curriculum and instruction committee has listed the SHS archery unit proposal as a first read; the committee's practice is to present materials at a first reading and bring them back for a vote after board members review the documents. Board members indicated they would read the proposals and bring questions to the Jan. 8 meeting rather than debate or vote on the program that night.
The board did not take a final vote on the archery unit at the meeting. Administrators and the curriculum committee were asked to make materials available and the board encouraged public review and follow-up questions at the next meeting.
