Police probe assault on school board member at meeting
GLASTONBURY — Police say they do not anticipate charges being filed this week after a Board of Education member was punched when a public hearing over the name of the high school’s mascot became heated.
Lt. Corey Davis said Thursday police are still investigating the incident and are not releasing the names of the individuals involved while the case is still pending.
Footage of the incident circulating online and in various media reports showed an individual get in the face of a Board of Education member on Tuesday night. The videos being shared showed the apparent BOE member shove the individual away from him, prompting the other man to punch him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Other individuals nearby separated the two men after the incident.
The hearing was in response to more than 3,000 people signing a petition that circulated online, calling for the BOE to reverse its decision to retire the Tomahawk as the Glastonbury High School mascot.
Alan B. Bookman, superintendent of schools in Glastonbury, said the incident occurred during a recess in the hearing.
“An incident occurred during the recess, which resulted in the board adjourning the meeting without voting on the matter,” Bookman said. “The Board of Education welcomes public comment and appreciates that there will always be passionate testimony when controversial issues are considered. But it is critical that we listen to each other with respect and follow meeting rules so that everyone can be heard.”
Douglas C. Foyle, chair of the Glastonbury BOE, said Wednesday that Bookman’s statement was the only comment being made by school officials at this time.
In June 2020, the Town Council and BOE released a joint statement on racism, injustice and discrimination following the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, according to a legislative history of the decision, provided by the BOE.
On July 2 of last year, the National Congress of American Indians contacted the BOE, requesting Glastonbury High School to stop using the Tomahawk logo. Four days later, the board’s Agenda Setting Committee met with the high school’s administration proposal to end the use of the logo. The proposal was put on the agenda of a July 13 board meeting.
During the July 13 meeting, the motion passed 6-2. Multiple additional special committee meetings on the matter were held in late July and through mid-August. Public comments on the change were accepted.
On Aug. 17, 2020, the board voted 7-1 to end the use of the logo at Glastonbury High School. The vote switched the school mascot to the Guardians. The board said in its decision that the mascot was insensitive.