It has been 2 months since I last provided an update on the fight to provide good quality mental health services to Killingly students.  Since then though, two major developments have happened.  In the local elections on November 7th, the Democrats running on a “Pro Mental Health” slate won 4 out of 6 seats being contested on the Killingly Board of Education. This included flipping 2 Republican held seats, this gaining a 5-4 majority. 

I have stated for months that the best way to resolve this dispute is to replace the recalcitrant members of the Board.  With their new majority, it should be easy for the new Board members to provide sufficient funding for Community Health Resources (the company the current board decided to hire for the school district).  There may also be an opportunity to, according to Killingly mental health advocate Christine Rosati Randall, involve Generations again in the district.  There is great hope that the comprehensive mental health care students need will finally be coming.

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The second major development that occurred involved the inquiry into the Killingly B.O.E’s conduct in denying sufficient student mental health services.  The Connecticut State Board of Education, following a report showing that the Killingly B.O.E violated state laws requiring the presence of quality mental health care, voted unanimously to initiate the inquiry in November 2022.  However, the attorney for the Killingly B.O.E delayed it by filing motions challenging the premise of the inquiry.  

Many motions were filed between Debra Stevenson, attorney for the Killingly B.O.E, Andrew Feinstein, attorney for the Killingly citizens filing the complaint, and Mike McKeon, Director of Governmental Affairs for the State B.O.E. But the inquiry finally began on November 15th, 378 days after it was approved.  Even though there will be a new Board being sworn at the end of the year, it is still important to hold the current Board accountable, and for there to be recommendations for the new Board to implement.

The inquiry was presided over by four members of the State Board.  Facing them were the chair and vice chair of the current Killingly Board, Norm Ferron and Kelly Martin respectively and Stevenson.  Sitting at separate tables facing  them were Andrew Feinstein and Mike McKeon. The hearing began on a combative note.  Attorney Stevenson opened by complaining about the lack of notifications regarding the inquiry, which the State Board members pushed back on. She submitted several objections to be put on the record.

Stevenson started by calling the vice chair, Kelly Martin to the stand (testifying table) as her first witness and began the questions.  Stevenson asked several questions about the Killingly B.O.E’s rejection of the original mental health contract with Generations.  She asked Martin for the reasoning behind the rejection of Generations, to which Martin cited the belief that there was not enough of an effort to include parental notification in the contract.  She then asked Martin about the Killingly Board’s effort to sign a contract with Community Health Services (CHS) and why CHS ultimately pulled out.  She asked Martin about the contract the Board ultimately signed with Community Health Resources (CHR).  Martin throughout the questioning explained what the Killingly School District has been doing to try to help students with mental health issues.

Afterwards, Attorney McKeon began to ask Kelly Martin questions.  He started to talk about the report published in October 2022, which was critical of the Killingly B.O.E.  He asked whether Martin stood by comments she made at the time saying the report was full of lies.  Martin said that she merely posted something on social media.  It was at this point of the inquiry where I had to leave because I had to get ready for work, so unfortunately I could not stay for the whole hearing.  According to the CT Mirror, Stevenson called up the current superintendent of Killingly as a witness later during the day before the inquiry finished in the late afternoon.  There will be 2 more hearings as part of this inquiry on November 30th and December 13th, and then the Connecticut State Board will deliberate and decide on any remediation plans.

Here is the link if you want more information about the inquiry: https://ctmirror.org/2023/11/15/killingly-hearing-school-board-mental-health-center/

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Elections in Other Countries:  On Sunday, there was the Presidential Runoff in Argentina.  The two who made it to the runoff were the Economy Minister in the current left-wing government Sergio Massa, and Javier Milei, a fiery populist libertarian.  The big issue that dominated the campaign was the dire state of the economy.  The economy is in a deep recession and inflation is 140 percent.  Milei campaigned on dramatically cutting the size of government, wielding a chainsaw at rallies to symbolize his slashing of government. He has caused controversy with his caustic comments about Pope Francis, a native Argentinean, and his pledge to eliminate several ministries. Like Donald Trump, he raised the specter of voter fraud.  Milei won the runoff vote with 55 percent, and will become the new President.  South America and the World will wait with baited breath on what he will do.