By Josh Resnek
Let the people be heard. Let the new school committee decide who the next superintendent will be, good bye to those whose votes are promised and not made independently. Welcome to those who defeated “the slate,” seemed to be the theme among many of the public speakers at the school committee meeting Monday night.
In all, nine men and women spoke out Mary Fortin said people she speaks with are afraid of retaliation. “Citizens should never feel that way, ever,” she said.
Vincent Dixon of the Mystic Valley NAACP read a statement from the NAACP which the Herald Leader has printed in today’s edition, which asks for an open and fair process regarding the public process of appointing a new superintendent. He asked that it be done by the new School Committee to be seated after the first of the year Sein McNally, a teacher in the Everett school system and parent of three, whose impassioned rhetoric has become a staple at School Committee meetings, again emphasized what he referred to as an “unethical and racist process” of removing Priya Tahiliani is what is playing out.
“Wait til January. Wait til January. Winning is not the point in the superintendent controversy. Tahiliani the best possible choice,” he admonished the school committee.
Tony Raymond, among the most outspoken of the public speaking advocates, expressed joy at those re-elected.
“We don’t want puppets in here. We want transparency. We are very distrustful of city government here in Everett. You think we’re happy?” he asked the School Committee.
“We are scrutinizing every move that’s made,” he warned.
Erica Walton, a lawyer for La Communidad read a statement (printed in this week’s edition of the Leader Herald) decrying a developing situation her organization believes excludes community stakeholders from being heard regarding Tahiliani’s removal and the appointment of a new fulltime superintendent.
Nancy Sanchetta said guidance councilors are buried with work.
Sandy Juliano implored the School Committee not to act on Tahiliani or a new superintendent before January.
“Don’t make a decision before the new School Committee is seated in January,” she asked.
Paula Steriti vote said placing Tahiliani on leave is “suspect.”
“Tahiliani is being treated terribly,” she added.
She spoke out to current members who lost their seats in the recent election.
“Current members – the city voted no to you and your blind allegiance to the mayor,” she said.
Robin Babcock, a newly elected member of the School Committee delivered impassioned remarks.
“Thank you to so many of you who voted for me… and who are concerned about school superintendent search.”
Babcock said she had reached out to the search committee seeking information about the search.
“I’ve received no reply from any of them,” she said.
“It is concerning to me with only six or seven people making a decision for all the school children of Everett. I want to have a say in who is hired… I feel that I have no say… Please stop the search. I want to be a part of it,” she added.