As Elections Near, Education and Politics Mixing

As election day closes in, two incidents have added to the intensity of the season.

According to emails obtained by Trumbull Patch, the Trumbull Education Association is standing by its teachers after school board member Loretta Chory asked Supt. Ralph Iassogna to halt teachers making political statements in the faculty lounge.

In an Oct. 14 email, Chory wrote, "Ralph, I have gotten complaints from several TPS employees about the vicious comments being made by some staff members in the staff lounges about Tim Herbst and other Republican candidates…. The employees indicated to me that they found it very offensive, but were hesitant to say anything to school administration for fear of retribution against them."

Iassogna replied, "Although I, too, believe offensive and vicious political comments on both sides of the aisle have no place in the schools, we have little control as to what people say outside the classroom. My suggestion is you have those who feel offended bring it to the attention of the building principal, and if it is disrupting the building, he/she can address it. Otherwise, because we are subject to the First Amendment, we are constrained in what we can do, and that is consistent with what Attorney Dugas has conveyed to us in the past."

Finally, an email from TEA President and teacher Tammy Baillargeon states,

"The tone, as well as the substance of this email, is most troubling, not only to me, but to all professional staff across the district. Conversations in staff lounges should not be the concern of Board of Education members. I am sure that other Board members feel they have more appropriate things to consider. Ms. Chory’s anonymous indictment of TPS employees for expressing political views contrary to her own is inexcusable....Please know that the TEA will continue to work with the Board, central office staff and the district’s administrators on the matter of most importance – the education of Trumbull’s students."

Baillargeon said she will fight for teachers' rights, and noted that the TEA is not endorsing any candidates. The union will hold a "meet the candidates" forum for teachers on Nov. 2.

Chory said recently, "I think it is part of my job as a board member to bring resident's concerns and comments about TPS to his attention," adding that she considers the matter closed after receiving Iassogna's response.

A Threat?

Meanwhile, Trumbull resident Cindy Katske has accused First Selectman Tim Herbst of threatening her in a Jan. 18, 2010 letter.

In the letter, Herbst said, "Over the course of the last 10 days, residents have brought to my attention both comments and conduct attributed concerning the Trumbull High School renovation.... Please be advised any future dissemination of such flagrant misrepresentations will be met with an appropriate response from this administration."

She said in a recent letter to Herbst that he could have called her directly and had asked her for advice in the past. "This is not the only instance of residents being intimidated by Mr. Herbst. Trumbull residents should be outraged that the leader of our town thinks it's okay to threaten residents who dare to speak out against him. They should question whether he has the judgment and maturity to govern when he cannot abide the voicing of dissenting opinions," she said.

On Friday, Herbst questioned the timing of the accusation, adding that Katske supports Thornton.

"It's just a desperate attempt to win at all costs," he said. "They don't want to talk about the Trumbull they left us with two years ago. They're behind in the polls."

He said that the "appropriate response" was sending the letter to counter "inflammatory, false and misleading" information spread by Katske. He said what she posted on her Facebook page was not at issue, but rather that she forwarded "false" information as a PTA president.

"I called her out for making the PTA political," the first selectman said. "I expect better from someone who's an attorney."

"It created a townwide panic," he added.

But, said the first selectman, he did praise Katske for her public service in his letter.

Katske's letter can be viewed here.