The Newington school district has received threats from what the superintendent called "national extremist groups" in light of a decision to cancel Halloween costume parades at some district schools.
But Newington by no means canceled Halloween altogether in its schools, Superintendent Williams Collins said in a letter to Ruth Chaffee and Anna Reynolds elementary school families. There were no initial district-wide policy changes or directives from his office about Halloween for fall activities that led to the costume parade cancellations, he said in the letter he published on the district's website.
After receiving numerous calls and emails from concerned parents and even some death threats, the district has examined the situation and clarified rules about Halloween in the schools moving forward, according to Collins.
Halloween costumes have been banned in the classrooms during the school day, but will be permitted for after school activities, Collins said. Students won't be allowed to wear masks that completely cover their faces, he said.
"It wasn’t until we began receiving threatening and hateful phone calls and emails from national extremist groups that I formed an opinion on the subject of Halloween costumes in our schools," Collins said in his letter. "When I began getting calls and emails from parents, I started an investigation into the factual details of what actually transpired."
The costume parades were initially eliminated after principals and building administrators discussed ways to establish consistent guidelines for inclusive fall activities, addressing issues like costume appropriateness and "guidelines for public schools regarding holidays," Collins wrote.
After further reviewing the issue, Collins clarified that "our schools will continue to recognize holidays (including Halloween) as an important part of our students' backgrounds and traditions," he wrote in the letter. Halloween and holiday decorations will continue to be allowed in the schools, but the district warns staff not to give students the impression that any particular religion or denomination is preferred, according to Collins.
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"Halloween costumes do not have a place in school and cannot be worn during the school day," Collins wrote to parents. "Given the many issues, this is more appropriate as an after school activity."
While parent groups can continue to plan after-school events, students wearing any costumes should be easily identifiable "at all times" for security reasons, Collins said.
Collins said that the decision to cancel the Halloween parades ballooned on social media and in the news and that information conveying that the district canceled Halloween altogether was a misunderstanding. As a result, Collins said the district plans to "improve our communication strategies to avoid this misunderstanding from occurring again."
The Newington Public Schools district has four elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school.
