Public Comment: RJ Program Fosters Empathy, Accountability, and Problem Solving

The following public comment was offered at the Amherst Regional School Committee meeting on March 12, 2024.

My name is Shahd Ahmed. Currently I’m a junior here at Amherst Regional High School. (ARHS) and I reside in Amherst. Recently, I heard that the district would be cutting the Restorative Justice Program resulting in the termination of Mr. Aaron Buford. As a participant in the RJ program, I cannot stress enough the invaluable impact it has had on me personally, as well as on our school community as a whole. Under Mr. Buford’s guidance, many people, including myself, have developed essential skills to succeed in school and forged meaningful connections that have significantly contributed to our personal growth and academic success. The RJ program fosters a culture of empathy, accountability, and problem solving, which are important attributes in any educational setting. Removing such a vital program would not only deprive current and future students of its benefits but also undermine the sense of community and support that our school strives to cultivate. 

I also understand that you may incorporate this program into the deans’ office but the deans have a job and responsibility to discipline when needed which is also vital in a school system, but Buford’s work has helped students including myself not get to the point where we need to be disciplined, but rather work out problems peacefully and maturely. Also giving this program to the deans would just add to their caseload and their main focus wouldn’t be on RJ.

A petition was started in which just under 200 people including students, teachers, and parents, have shown that this program is important to them and would love to see a future for Mr. Buford and RJ.  I urge you to listen to the 180+ people and reconsider the decision to cut the RJ program and Mr. Buford, as it serves as a cornerstone of our school’s morals and positively impacts the lives of countless students.

Shad Ahmed is a junior at Amherst Regional High School and a resident of Amherst.