Another Resignation, Now What?
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Jennifer Shiao’s School Committee Blog
Editor’s note: Jennifer Shiao is a member of the Amherst School Committee. Her original posts can be found here. An archive of her blog posts in The Indy can be found here.
Another day and another School Committee resignation. Peter Demling notified the School Committee of his resignation this morning. In his note, he said:
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our schools and to have served with you. Take care of yourself, and take care of each other, no matter what happens.
I wish you, the committees and our school districts nothing but the best as you face the road ahead.”
You may be wondering, who is left??
The answers are:
- Irv Rhodes and I are the remaining two members of the Amherst School Committee. With only two members of a five-member body, the School Committee does not have quorum and therefore can not meet or take any votes. I talked to staff in the central office today to make sure payments (including payroll) can still be made, without a committee meeting to approve warrants. After consulting with the school district’s attorney, it was established that either Rhodes or I can sign warrants, and they would need to be approved at the next meeting with quorum. So, payments and payroll will not be held up.
- There are now three vacancies to be filled. See my previous blog post about the process to fill School Committee vacancies. The Town Council will be holding a meeting on Monday August 28, which Rhodes and I will also attend, to discuss the process and timeline for filling the vacancies.
- With these three resignations (Herrington, McDonald, Demling), the Regional School Committee* is also down three members, how ever that nine-member body still has a quorum and is still operating. The Union 26 committee is down two members, but that body also still has a quorum and is still operating. In fact, the Regional and Union 26 committees (including Rhodes and me) are hard at work determining who will be our interim superintendent. More will be shared on that soon.
*See my blog post Amherst has two School Committees? for an explanation on the multiple School Committees.
This blog reflects my own views about the Amherst and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees – it does not represent the view of the committees, the district, or the superintendent. This blog complies with Open Meeting Law, as long as a quorum of School Committee members do not engage in deliberations in the comments. Comments are welcome. I may respond to comments, but I will not respond to all comments. Sign up here using the “follow blog via email” form to be notified when I post a new entry. You can email me at jennifer@jenniferamherst.org.
I wonder if Amherst is becoming ungovernable. Citizens expect impossible outcomes from those they choose to serve but refuse to step up to the plate themselves. Every event is labeled a “crisis” and if decisions don’t go the way they want, they attack the people who are working for their benefit. Our Superintendent was castigated because he took a medical leave. Our school board has been lambasted while they try to manage an investigation that is supposed to address our questions. Instead of expecting teachers to teach academic skills, we expect them to parent our children. Who in their right mind would want to work in a community like this when there are saner places down the road?
These attitudes may grow out of frustration with the slow pace of change or income inequality or endless bureaucracy or other frustrations but they serve no one, including the children. If we want a first rate school system we have to be first rate citizens. It’s hard and requires compassion, respect and compromise.
One of the many challenges of living in America is the multicultural nature of our society. The vast majority of American families came from immigrant families yet we are hard in new immigrants. Those who make it here are strong, determined, and independent. Norms in one culture are offenses in another. It’s confusing for everyone and creates hurt where none was intended. I don’t have solutions but I think it might be valuable to reflect on our role as citizens and how we help make our community better through compassion and support rather than attack and anger.
Well said. Amherst is full of self-righteous “furies” who cannot tolerate any problem that is not immediately solved to their satisfaction. They refuse to await “fact-finding” and calm discussion. It’s hard enough to get citizens to serve (almost always without compensation) on councils, boards, committees, etc. with the certainty of being subject to ad hominem attacks.
To Judith: Have you considered serving on the School Committee yourself? Your remarks above suggest you might step up to the challenge. Perhaps you can adapt them as a letter of interest to share with Town Council/School Committee?
It’s little consolation, but Amherst is not unique:
Nearly every member of Uxbridge School Committee has resigned, prompting outside review
Thanks for enlightening us, Jennifer, on how we move forward.