Parents fault district for delayed lockdown notice; board pledges review and support for affected families

At a special Newington Board of Education meeting on June 17, parents pressed the district for clearer, faster communication after a June 11 lockdown at John Patterson School that left many families unaware for hours. Parent Lisa Barbagallo told the board she was "angry" and "sad" after her seven-year-old returned home upset, and said there was "no valid excuse" for a message not reaching parents until seven hours later.

Elena Overstat said her daughter described yelling and frightened classmates and that "this was not a drill," arguing that parents deserve timely notice whenever a lockdown is initiated. Overstat said district emails afterward said the lockdown was initiated by Newington Police and attributed the notification failure to a principal who did not verify that an email had been delivered.

Multiple speakers urged the district to adopt redundant mass-notification systems. Overstat cited West Hartford's emergency platform as an example and asked whether the district's protocol should require multiple staff members to be able to send a verified notification if the principal is unavailable.

PAR classroom staff and parents also tied the communication upset to broader operational strains. Paraeducator Danielle Rooney, who identified herself as a paraprofessional at John Patterson, said employer-provided health insurance will be unaffordable for many paraeducators at current pay levels and called for base pay increases: "Offering insurance we cannot afford is a hollow gesture." Paraeducator Evie Nolton described classrooms where two staff members cover six to eight students with complex needs and urged higher pay and benefits to recruit and retain support staff.

Superintendent Dr. Brummit acknowledged the seriousness of parents' concerns, told speakers the district would follow its policy for responding to emails, and said administrators would review communication protocols and the verification process for emergency notifications. Board members publicly committed to forming or delegating a communications review so that messages are double-checked and redundant sending paths are explored.

Board members also urged administration to offer supports for students affected by the incident; one member specifically recommended that counseling resources be made available to John Patterson and John Wallace families who may have experienced trauma.

The meeting record shows no immediate policy change voted that night; instead, board members said administration would return with concrete follow-up, including (per board discussion) a clearer rollout plan for parent notification systems and a timeline for updates to the district's lockdown notification procedures.

The board's public comments period closed with the chair reminding speakers that administration would follow up directly with those who emailed and with the community at large. Several parents said they expected a prompt written summary of the district's action steps.