Those in favor were led by WRSD ninth-grader Caroline Melnick of Holden, who spoke from her own experience of being bullied and even encouraged to kill herself. Such incidents, Melnick said, made her afraid to go to school and interfered with learning. She regretted not speaking out about her experience in the past but hoped speaking out now would help address the problem.
“I don’t want this to happen to other kids,” she said.
Melnick urged adoption of the DEI policy. “By not doing anything at all, it is ignoring the problem completely and putting (students) in danger of being bullied and harassed.”
Regarding the proposed DEI policy and parents’ fears, Melnick said, “The DEI policy does not force people to become gay or transgender or Jewish or anything like that, but instead to respect it.”
Several parents who spoke in support of the measure also cited incidents of racism and anti-LGBTQIA bullying their children had experienced in the district, and noted the danger of not creating a better atmosphere in the district’s schools. Mike Willander of Holden brought up the case of a student from another school who had committed suicide after being bullied, and pointed to the statistic that only 39 percent of students felt a sense of belonging at their school.
Adoption of the policy, Sheila Dibb of Rutland said, is “a no brainer.” Dibb, like Melnick, addressed the fears of other parents who opposed the policy. “Nothing in this policy will give your child less.”
Parent Stephanie Jordan of Princeton, however, criticized the equity portion of the DEI policy.
“Equity (is) the same word used by every communist leader in the world,” Jordan said.
Steven Cooley of Holden criticized the DEI effort as “duplicative” and a distraction from the schools’ other challenges, such as the budget and child safety.
Several parents opposing the measure characterized the policy as a political measure that would divide people.
Parents on both sides voiced concerns about the district’s children’s future worldview.
The public commentary portion of the Jan. 30 meeting was extended beyond the initially scheduled 20-minute period due to the long list of about two dozen attendees who signed up to speak. The committee voted to allow an additional 32 minutes of public comment in order to hear from everyone who had signed up to speak.
The meeting adjourned briefly when it was discovered that one attendee was recording the meeting without first having informed the committee.
The committee’s discussions before the final vote were interrupted by numerous discussions of procedure.
Opponents of the policy suggested that it might involve exclusion rather than inclusion and voiced concerns that implementing the policy might incur expense for the district. Superintendent James Reilly said his interpretation was that the policy was to strive for the goals, which did not immediately incur cost. Proponents pointed out that with five towns and 13 schools and thousands of students, it would be impossible to have complete agreement on any issue. The school committee had received more than 100 emails on the issue.
The policy passed 16 to 4, with the chair abstaining.
The policy can be viewed by going to https:// www.wrsd.net/school_ committee/policies/series_ 6000_pupil_services and clicking on P6436 Appreciation of Diversity.
Other business
Reilly, who was hired by the school district in July 2022 to replace retiring superintendent Darryl McCall, updated the school committee on his progress toward the goals set for him.
Reilly set the stage by pointing out the multiple changes being endured by the district at this time, including having four new principals in the district and several key staff changes. Reilly pointed to what he termed the “high level of dysfunction” he inherited as a factor in the achievement of the superintendent’s goals, and cited the fiscal crisis as a top priority.
