Armed Guards in Enfield Schools Topic of Community Conversation

A community conversation regarding the placing of armed guards in Enfield schools will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Enfield High School.

Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions about the controversial topic. However, since the Town Council and Board of Education each approved a memorandum of understanding in the past few days, approving the installation of armed guards at each town public school by the beginning of the next school year and a job description for the new posts, a number of residents are questioning the decision to hold a public forum after the governing bodies have already conducted their votes.

"Make note that this is the second time this board has voted against waiting for community comment before voting," Vinnie Weseliza wrote on the Facebook page "Enfield Needs Positive Change and Results."

On the same board, Shawn Droney wrote, "They don't care what people feel so now it will pass and no one will be at the discussion tomorrow and then they go on record and say the residents don't care."

Some school board members asked to postpone the vote until after the community meeting, but a majority opted to decide Tuesday. That vote passed 5-4, with Jen Rancourt, Tina Leblanc, Joyce Hall and Peter Jonaitis dissenting.

"Why couldn't they wait for the community conversation? Thank you Joyce, Tina, Jennifer and Peter for at least attempting to educate people," Tracy Hackett wrote.