Board won't renew teacher's contract

GREENWICH — A South Central High School choir teacher won't be returning to work next school year, with many in the community stating his contract was not renewed because of his sexual orientation. A vote at Monday's South Central Schools board meeting failed to approve a renewal for teacher Alex Kuhn. The vote was 2-1 in favor of renewal, but three votes were needed for approval. Board vice president Don Englet moved to renew Kuhn's contract, which was seconded by board president Jason Putt. Here's how the board voted, according to superintendent Ben Chaffee Jr.: • Englet voted "yes" • Putt voted "yes" • Board member Bryan Hamman voted "no" • Board members David Beverage and John Whitright both abstained from the vote Immediately following the vote, Englet resigned his position on the board. Kuhn's employment with the district has been under fire in recent times, including when a resident questioned at a prior board meeting their knowledge of the teacher's "lifestyle." At the same meeting, a single individual, Gene Lamoreaux, expressed dissatisfaction with school board hiring practices, lamenting that he "hoped the board would consider the desires of South Central residents" when considering Kuhn's contract renewal. Lamoreaux also claims to have circulated a petition "with over 200 signatures," sharing his disappointment. The petition was not presented at the meeting, and the Reflector has not seen, examined nor verified the document. Also at that meeting, Kuhn supporters wore red to "support a wonderful teacher," according to a prior social media posting inviting supporters of Kuhn to attend. The remaining board members, when contacted by the Reflector, either did not respond or declined comment and referred questions to the board's attorney. That attorney, Susan Keating Anderson, of the Cleveland-based law firm Roetzel and Andress, did not return a call seeking comment.