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Residents urge board to block Turning Point USA chapter at New Milford High School
Summary
Several residents and parents told the New Milford Board of Education they oppose exploring a Turning Point USA chapter at the high school, saying the organization is partisan, could divide students and would harm school climate and teacher recruitment; trustees took no formal action.
Several residents urged the New Milford Board of Education on April 28 to reject any effort to establish a Turning Point USA chapter at New Milford High School.
"Schools are not platforms for outside organizations to bring in agendas that risk dividing students," said Angela Herdter, a retired district teacher, during public comment. Herdter warned that partisan controversy could harm teacher recruitment and make budget passage more difficult.
Other public commenters raised similar concerns. Irene Skrybailo said Turning Point USA requires three students and one teacher to form a chapter and told trustees the organization maintains "a professor watch list and a board of education watch list," which she said is "damaging to the town" and harmful to LGBTQ and Black and Brown students. Carolyn Hyde, a parent of three district students, said students would be asked to sign a constitution "with a purpose to uphold limited government" and that the group "encourages kids to become recruitment warriors," predicting the club would divide the high-school community. Resident Jackie Eaton described the organization as pushing "white Christian nationalism" and called its presence in town "despicable."
Board members did not take a formal vote on a Turning Point USA chapter during the meeting. The comments came during the public-comment portion of the agenda; no trustee motion or policy change authorizing a club was recorded in the meeting minutes.
Why it matters: Trustees review public input when considering extracurricular and policy matters that affect school climate, student safety and staff recruitment. The speakers expressed concern that the group’s presence could shift administrative attention and classroom dynamics and said existing student organizations already serve community-building purposes.
What happens next: The board did not announce a specific next step on the Turning Point USA request at this meeting. Trustees have multiple policy updates on their agenda and may consider club-recognition rules or related policy language in future meetings.
