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East Haddam school board confronts fallout after member’s social media post; residents divided
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the East Haddam Board of Education discussed a board member’s social-media post portraying tactical gear and the caption “ICE agents in training,” prompting split statements from board members, a promise of training, and dozens of public comments urging consistent standards or defending the member’s volunteer record.
The East Haddam Board of Education spent the bulk of its Jan. 21 meeting addressing a social-media post by board member Sean Moresy that residents said celebrates violence by federal immigration officers and other speakers said reflected private recreation and dedication to public safety.
Board Chair opened the discussion after describing 17 emails and two phone calls about the post and said she would not call a special meeting but would schedule training through the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) and offer board members an opportunity to make statements.
The board’s comments were sharply split. "Freedom of speech is something we should protect, even if the speech is not something we actually agree with," a board member said, while another warned that the post "connect[s] violence with federal immigration officials" and "works against our board goals" of equity and student safety. Several board members urged a consistent, written policy for volunteer access and social-media expectations so similar incidents are handled even-handedly.
Moresy addressed the board at length and said the photograph showed him playing "airsoft," a recreational activity using plastic BB guns, and that he did not intend to celebrate violence. "I am proud and honored for what they do," Moresy said of law-enforcement and military personnel, and he denied speaking "any ill will about anybody." He said he plans to remain on the board and to continue volunteering with youth sports and other community activities.
Multiple public commenters responded during the audience-of-citizens period. Jackie Endorf, a former board member, urged restraint and urged the board to adopt clear policies so mistakes become teachable moments rather than career-ending events. Several residents asked the board to apply the same standard used in a prior September 2025 incident that led to a resignation; others rose to defend Moresy’s volunteer record and urged the board to move on.
The chair said the posts in question originated on personal accounts and were then reposted on town Facebook groups. She reiterated that personal social-media posts are not official board statements but added: "Please keep your volunteer position in mind when posting on any social media platform." The chair said she will follow up with CABE training and will meet individually with board members who wish to make statements.
No formal disciplinary vote or removal was taken at the meeting. The board did pause (previously) one volunteer’s access pending review, and the chair said she will meet this month with the superintendent and report back on that specific volunteer-status question. The meeting record shows extensive public concern about perceived inconsistency in how the board responded to different social-media incidents.
The board returned to other business after the discussion; the superintendent noted that a budget presentation will be offered next month. The board also approved meeting minutes and several consent-agenda personnel items later in the evening.
The board’s next procedural step on the social-media matter is a CABE training date to be determined and the chair’s planned one-on-one follow-ups with members and the superintendent about volunteer access.
