Assault on board member shocks parents

GLASTONBURY— Residents and school officials remain stunned days after a Board of Education member was punched during a public hearing to discuss the name of the high school mascot.

In video of the incident, board Secretary Ray McFall and another man, who police have not identified, come face-to-face in a confrontation during a break in the meeting. At one point, McFall appears to push the man away from him, prompting the man to punch him in the face, knocking him to the floor.

The public hearing was to discuss a circulating online petition to restore the Glastonbury High School Tomahawk mascot, which was changed to the

Guardians in July 2020.

As a result of the incident, which occurred Tuesday during a 10-minute recess after the public hearing was closed, the board adjourned without voting on the matter.

Parents and family members of high school students expressed shock and disappointment following the incident.

Chris Johnson, who has two children at Glastonbury High School, said one of his sons was at the meeting and showed him footage of the incident when he returned home.

“I’m just shocked they didn’t act as adults,” he said.

Flor Briceno, whose niece is a high school student, expressed a similar sentiment.