The controversial subject of library resources was once again discussed during a school committee meeting, this time as an item on Monday night’s agenda of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.
Michelle Smith, committee chairperson, provided a draft statement for the committee’s consideration, highlighted by an existing policy that the selection of library resources is the primary responsibility of the library staff.
The approved selection criteria would necessarily include a wide range of educational materials representing many different points of view and afford the public access to review materials by filing a request form that can be found on the Teaching and Learning page of the district website. The School Committee, meanwhile, will continue to govern school-library procedures by adhering to existing law and policies.
After a motion to approve was made, committee member Joe Pires motioned to allow the public to comment on the policy. Smith stated that public participation in committee deliberations is confined to budget-related items.
Pires abstained from the vote that otherwise approved the existing policy putting resources (including book selection) in the hands of library staff.
In recent months, Pires has publicly objected to what he considers pornography on the shelves of ORR’s school libraries. The same literature is considered by community activists as crucial and even foundational to an inclusive society.
An ensuing debate between Pires and others including committee Vice Chairperson Frances Kearns spread onto social media. During the recent Joint School Committee meeting, Pires questioned if membership in the grassroots non-profit group Tri-Town Against Racism poses a conflict of interest. Outside the committee, he has publicly suggested so.
Later during Public Comment, Frances Kearns’ husband Thomas Kearns objected to the suggestion his wife resign from the committee and suggested the person on the other side of the argument (Pires) do so instead.
Despite Pires’ self-identification as a minority and insistence in his support of equity and inclusion, his conflict with Tri-Town Against Racism has only escalated.
Monday night, Smith drew the line to keep the simmering conflict from rendering the ORR School Committee dysfunctional.
Smith started by publicly apologizing for having “failed” the committee. She expressed regret for not taking charge in accordance with her role during recent meetings in which she stated that multiple members used inappropriate platforms such as subcommittee reports to engage in diatribe on topics not on the meeting agenda.
“I will not allow any off-topic agendas, nor allow the public to be disrespectful. My role is not to take any sides but to follow policy … I’m done with all the disrespect,” said Smith. “I will stop any member who speaks off topic on an item that is not on the agenda, and I will stop any member of the public from speaking disrespectfully to a committee member.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well it takes a unified school committee to lead us forward.”
Also during Public Comment toward the end of the agenda, ORR student Alia Cusolito, who identifies in gender as non-binary, spoke on behalf of the high school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance and BIPOC club.
“You’ve all been talking about students rather than with us, which is now continuing as we are unable to have a conversation when we’re not on the agenda,” read Cusolito from a prepared statement.
In acknowledging the committee’s commitment to anti-racism policy and culture, Cusolito encouraged the membership to consider the students’ other needs and perspectives.
“Despite the negativity expressed by some community members, we believe that advocating for the safety and well-being of all people is the most effective and empathetic course of action. We respectfully ask that you seek our expertise rather than having adults outside of the school speak on our behalf. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate on any actions that directly impact us.”
ORR student Isabella Doyle spoke about her experience encountering racial stereotyping that persisted outside class after she asked for name calling to stop. She said ORR needs to strengthen its “messaging” to students of color that the support in school policy will be enacted upon incidents of racism.
The ORR School Committee held several votes, unanimously approving recommendations to tweak the 2023-24 ORRHS Program of Studies.
Additions include: Honors Human Anatomy, Physiology I, College Prep-level Portuguese III and Honors Portuguese III as continuations; Cyber Security I and II as a Computer Science prerequisite, expansion of Unified Physical Education to Grade 9 (maximum 21 students per semester, total 42); renaming English 12 Communication in the 21st Century according to its former name English 12A (to distinguish it from the honors class); Unified Arts ceramics (including written work); Black & White Photography; emphasis on the artist’s role in society in Art History; Honors Human Anatomy (conceptual learning of various systems requiring the use of primary sources); opening Computer Science Principles to tech-driven freshmen (new prerequisite for Computer Science per the advice of college boards); and removal of a course on creativity and inspiration that had “very little student interest.”
New language in the high school and junior high student handbooks meant to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences was approved by the committee. The refined policy will strive to seek information on why students are absent that will help district administration offer assistance to those students.
The committee approved the use of the use of the high school’s multipurpose field by the local girls youth lacrosse league. Pending the league schedule, the organization requested a total of four Sundays during April, May or June. Each Sunday would include four 50-minute games for a total of 200 minutes on the field.
“This has my full support,” said ORR Principal Mike Devoll, speaking on behalf of himself, Facilities Director Gene Jones and Director of Athletics Bill Tilden. He noted that the program already practices on the ORR campus. “We will collaborate as we do with all of our youth organizations on when the fields are not playable.”
According to lacrosse-program representative Sara Jacobsen, the area boys program uses the Dexter Lane fields in Rochester. Asked if the high school coaches support the new presence of youth football and now lacrosse, Devoll said, “All of our coaches – I’ll speak for all of them – want our kids on our campus.”
Nelson told the committee that the resurfacing of ORR’s track is headed toward a June completion date. The spring track programs are working to secure a practice and competitive schedule on rivals’ campuses.
The committee approved the School Health Unit applications submitted to the state Department of Public Health by school nurses Nicole Reedy (ORRHS) and Linda Deveau (ORRJH.)
The committee approved four donations from Cape Cod 5 Educational Mini-Grants to district faculty: $490 to Brian Almeida for three 3D printers, $360 to assist Eugenia Tilley in teaching Latin, $500 to Andrew Apperson to support disc golf on the ORR campus and $496 to Allison Barker for digital story-telling resources.
ORR announced the hire of custodians Justin Almeida and Stephen Gaudet and Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Melissa Wilcox. With the announcement that Secretary Diana Russo is retiring, the committee voted to appoint Wilcox both as committee secretary and recording secretary.
ORR golf coach Chris Cabe was recognized for guiding the Bulldogs to the 2022 fall season MIAA Division 2 championship.
Student representative Sakurako Huyhn Aoyama reported on activities and events including theme dressing and an “Adam Sandler Day.”
The Central Office Report yielded news that there are open spots available for the Math Acceleration Academy during February vacation, and Devoll publicly acknowledged the ORR boys swimming team for winning the conference championship, Markus Pierre for his Golf recognition in The Standard-Times and 2022 ORR graduate and Harvard University freshman Eddie Gonet, who brought Harvard’s oldest a cappella club, the Krokodiloes, to ORR where they performed before an audience reaching 400. “I think we’ll be making that a yearly event,” said Devoll.
The committee voted to enter executive session, only returning to adjourn.
The next meeting of the ORR School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee will be held on Thursday, March 30. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 pm in the ORR Junior High media room, also accessible live via Zoom.
ORR School Committee
By Mick Colageo