Litchfield group plans expanded anti-bullying events for elementary schools, offers funding support

The Litchfield Prevention Council on June 9 discussed plans to expand anti-bullying programming in local elementary schools and offered financial support to help run separate events at each school.

Council members reviewed the 'Stacked Deck' curriculum work at Lakeview High School and progress on a Debate Club grant. Gary Waugh reported he had provided Jeff McKenna with contact information for Jill and Brian Monjeu and said his interview and photo were submitted in support of the Stacked Deck project. Waugh also updated the group on Debate Club outreach efforts, including distributing printed information and recommending the 'Powered Up' course, while noting continued roadblocks to implementing a survey tied to the grant.

On school programming, the council discussed bringing presenter Chris Polos to Litchfield Elementary and Plumb Hill Schools on Sept. 11, 2026. The recommendation from council members was to hold individual events at each elementary school rather than transport students to a single site to reduce cost and logistical complexity. Caroline Wilcox Ugurlu said she will discuss the plan with parent-teacher organizations, and Gary Waugh said the council is prepared to contribute up to half of the total cost for those events, capped at $5,000.

Minutes record the deliberation and the council's direction to pursue separate-school events and local PTO coordination. No formal vote on the total funding commitment was recorded in the minutes beyond the stated willingness to cover up to $5,000. The council also noted ongoing work on related curriculum and publicity efforts.

The council did not announce a final budget allocation or vendor contracts at the meeting; members said next steps include coordination with school PTOs and follow-up conversations with presenters and school staff.