Parents Clash at School Committee Over LGBTQ+ Remarks and Student Survey Missteps
Community members lashed out at the School Committee and each other in response to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and subsequent conversations.
Last night's School Committee once again opened on a full room of community members wishing to speak to the Committee, and once again things got heated and unruly, as newly-named chair Melissa Massardo had to call two recesses to establish order in the room.
The two main topics of conversation for the public participation portion of the meeting were the student survey that was discussed last week and the community garden that is currently being expanded at Francis Wyman Elementary School.
Abutters to the community garden had several questions for the Committee. One speaker asked why the project didn't go before the Planning Board; others asked for a clarification of property lines and better communication with neighbors before a project like this is undertaken. The School Committee told the speakers they'd be in touch with additional information, saying it is their policy not to respond to questions in the moment during public participation.
One community member then read a letter to the School Committee urging them not to allow statements that conflate the LGBTQ+ community with grooming and sexualizing children to stand uncontested during public participation time, referencing comments made by parents who spoke at the April 1 meeting. The point of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the letter said, is to identify and support at-risk groups; the LGBTQ+ community is one of the most at-risk groups, and the letter implored the School Committee to protect those groups rather than allow incorrect characterization of members of this community.
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Discussion of topics related to the survey officially began with the Committee's decision to pause student-facing surveys until the district has an official policy in place for survey review and a clear opt-out procedure. Many parents who spoke last week say their wishes to opt out their students weren't honored, and community members were unhappy that the School Committee, district administration, and even the Wellness Committee that approved the survey denied having read the questions prior to this year's administration. It was also moved to sever ties with the consulting firm that had created the survey, a motion that was approved by the Committee.
Public participation lasted for about an hour, with many parents continuing to express outrage and one even calling for removal of superintendent Dr. Eric Conti. Member Christine Monaco, while referencing the policy not to comment during public participation, broke in to defend Conti, saying that while the Committee and Dr. Conti agreed with parent concerns, everyone makes mistakes. She went on to remind the speaker that discussing personnel issues at public meetings is illegal but said there are attempts ongoing to establish responsibility.
The conversation was once again emotional and contentious, with some audience members calling out and exceeding the allotted three minutes despite the chair's calls for order. At one point, when a speakerāwho was expressing a more positive perspective on the survey and her wish for more productive dialogueācouldn't finish her statement due to shouting from the audience, a recess was called to regain order. The police were present, as well.
One parent refused to stop talking when the Chair closed public participation after an hour. She demanded answers from the Committee to the questions the group asked the previous week. Dr. Conti committed to get answers to all the attendees' questions in early May, but parents reminded the Committee that at the last meeting they were told their questions would get responses at this meeting. Member Jeremy Brooks added his voice, saying he didn't want to promise something to parents and not deliver it.
Member Katherine Bond asked the audience for patience, as reviews like this take time, and promised responses to parent questions and concerns after a thorough look is taken. Another recess was taken and the room had to be cleared so the Committee could continue with the rest of their business for the evening, though noise from the hallway continued.
The next School Committee meeting will be on April 29.
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