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More to the Story

My Dec. 6 letter to the editor entitled “Not the End of the Story” informed the citizens of Guilford how I was denied the opportunity to respond in kind to Guilford Public School (GPS) Superintendent Dr. Paul Freeman’s Sept. 15 letter to the entire Guilford school community by utilizing the same taxpayer-funded GPS communications system he used to send his letter out. Specifically, he refused to either furnish me with the GPS community email list so I could respond directly or send my reply to the GPS community himself. But there is still more to the story.

Beginning on Nov. 4, I have been requesting to be added to the GPS communications email list. I first emailed my request to Freeman’s executive assistant, Terri Fiondella, on Nov. 4 and followed up on Nov. 8. Receiving no response, I emailed my request to administrative assistant Amy Cripe on Nov. 10. Receiving no response, I emailed Freeman on Nov. 17. Receiving no response, I emailed GPS communications director Lorri Hahn on Nov. 21 and followed up on Nov. 27 Receiving no response, I emailed Town Counsel Peter Barrett on Dec. 4 and followed up on Dec. 5. All members of the Guilford Board of Selectmen and the Guilford Board of Education (BOE) were copied on these requests. Crickets, except for an email from First Selectman Matt Hoey on Dec. 11, where he informed me that the Town Counsel’s “responsibilities do not include providing legal opinions to members of the public, nor critiquing the actions taken by the Superintendent, BOE or school staff … It would be inappropriate for Attorney Barrett to provide the opinion you request.”

So, in Guilford, where is the leadership, where is the oversight, where is the transparency, and where do concerned citizens turn for help?

Dave Holman

Guilford