Weathersfield board OKs purchase of textbooks

By Mary Smith

One parent called for the removal of the board, superintendent and high school principal.

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Board of Education approved the purchase of language arts books for grades one through five, special education and Title I pupils for a total of $101,651.

Title I is a program, authorized by Congress, that provides supplemental funds to school districts to assist schools with the highest pupil concentrations of poverty to meet school educational goals.

Superintendent Michael Hanshaw said at Wednesday’s board meeting the purchase is part of a book-replacement program the district started four years ago that includes replacement of texts on a five-year cycle.

The board will buy language arts books for pupils in grades seven through 12 next year.

Books were purchased from McGraw-Hill publishers.

In other matters, parent Gina Maher called for the removal of the board, the superintendent and the high school principal for their actions or inaction on several situations, some of which involved her children.

Maher contended a student teacher had breached her son’s privacy in a classroom by revealing private information about him to other students.

She also claimed her daughter was left at a Relay for Life event in Warren by local teachers in charge and expressed surprise that no action was taken against them by the administration or school board.

She also criticized use of what she called see-through track uniforms that had been assigned to the cross-country team. She also accused the high school principal of using foul language to students and teachers.

Hanshaw declined to comment about any of Maher’s allegations.

The board also approved a donation of $500 from the Whittaker Family toward materials for cleanup around the E.Z. Whittaker Memorial located at the football stadium.

It also accepted the resignation of Kim Brunton, district nurse/safety services director, effective Aug. 29. Hired to replace her was John Hontula on a one-year limited contract effective that same date at a yearly salary of $30,500.