Legally unable to oust Christopher Watts from his Board of Education seat, Windsor Board of Education members unanimously demanded he submit a resignation and voted to remove him from the Board's finance committee during a special meeting Tuesday night.
Several members of the community turned out at L.P. Wilson for the meeting, which was specifically held to address Watts, who was charged with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Board President Doreen Richardson said it's important that the public understand that members of the Board of Education do not instruct or tutor students.
Some members of the Board do serve as mentors to youth in the community, which requires a full background check, including fingerprinting, but Watts did not serve in that capacity, she said, adding that there has been no indication of Watts' alleged behavior involving children in the Windsor community.
Windsor resident Samara Scott, a mother of two, including a Windsor Public School student, said she was taken aback when she learned of the charges against the 38-year-old Board member.
"I just saw him at a PTA meeting," she said Tuesday after the Board's meeting, adding that "he seemed like such a nice guy."
Windsor resident Grace Carter, a mother of a 7-year-old Windsor Public School student said the Board of Education is not to blame, adding that there was nothing in Watts' background that would have led people to believe would commit the crime he has been charged with.
Windsor Superintendent Jeffrey Villar said the district has drafted a letter it will send out to parents of district students explaining the situation.
Villar said it's important that parents of Windsor Public Schools students understand the difference between the role of Board of Education members and employees of the district, adding that Board members deal with educational policy and are not tasked with dealing with the district's children one-on-one.
"We try very hard to have built in protection (for students)," said Villar with regard to the confidence Windsor parents can have in their children's safety while at school.
"Students are not alone with adults for long periods of time, interaction with students are in public with open doors," he explained.
"As a district we follow up on anyone's concerns... This (situation) is shocking because we've been betrayed."
Following the Board's vote, Richardson said a formal letter demanding Watts' resignation will be drafted and sent to him, and actions will be taken to replace him on the finance committee.
