Dear Ellington Family -
I send this correspondence on behalf of the Ellington Board of Education.
On Thursday, December 9, 2021, the Ellington Board of Education approved a letter to Commissioner Manitha Juthani of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). The letter expresses concerns over a State policy direction that has the potential to publicly stigmatize students based upon their medical status--vaccinated or unvaccinated.
The current Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference guidelines--as supported by DPH--that go into effect December 24th establish this approach that is similar to DPH's youth sports policy direction.
The Board is concerned that DPH, in concert with the CT State Department of Education, will consider a similar policy direction and/or support legislation that will continue to visibly distinguish students based upon their medical status during the school day.
Board of Education Approved Motion (12/09/21):
Move that the Board of Education, in recognition of the Board's concerns regarding the creation of state policies, guidelines, or legislation that visibly distinguish between those who are vaccinated and those who are not; specifically that such policies may violate the district's obligations under the Family Educational Records Protection Act to keep student information private that they potentially publicly stigmatize students and present them for targets of harassment and that such decisions to vaccinate fall along demographic religious, cultural and socio economic lines; approve the letter as stated with permission for the Superintendent to distribute accordingly.
Dr. Scott V. Nicol
Superintendent of Schools
(860) 896-2300