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Date: 8/29/2023
AMHERST — Three resignations quickly followed a closed executive session of the joint School Committees that lasted more than two hours and was met with significant community pushback when the members returned to the open session portion of the virtual Aug. 24 meeting.
The posted purpose for the closed session was for the committee to review and approve the Aug. 17 executive session minutes which outlined the mutual separation agreement with Superintendent Michael Morris, including the agreed to severance package, Morris’ departure date of Aug. 31 and the expected actions for the district and Morris in regard to addressing the current Title IX investigation and two active discrimination complaints filed in the wake of that inquiry.
During the closed session, the number and the impatience of the virtual audience members grew online with the chat screen running an increasing number of complaint messages regarding the time the committee remained sequestered and the reason for the lengthy delay in returning to open session.
When the joint committee returned the committee offered a brief explanation for the lengthy delay as Union #26 School Committee Chair Peter Demling provided an update on what had transpired during the executive session.
“The minutes for the [Aug. 17] executive session we were in executive session for have been approved,” he said.
Sarabess Kenney, acting chair for the Amherst Regional School Committee called the next item agenda to reorganize the committee in the wake of Chair Ben Herrington’s resignation. Nominations for chair and vice-chair were taken from the committee with Kenney chosen as chair and Jennifer Shaio selected as vice-chair.
Union #26 member Anna Heard then headed the nomination process for the same roles within their committee. Members Irv Rhodes and Margaret Stancer were voted in as chair and vice-chair respectively.
With the public comment portion of the meeting opened, a formidable number of community members came forward to denounce the committee’s support and defense of Morris and perceived avoidance of their constituents. Also condemned during public comment, the compensation given to Morris before results of the Title IX.
MJ Schwartz, a self-identified queer and non-binary parent and step parent and experienced crisis line counselor read from a list of LGBTQIA+ teens who have died by suicide.
Referring to the accusations against middle school staff in the treatment towards LGBTQIA+ students, Schwartz offered criticism of the committee’s response and actions.
“Members of our community who have treated this as a public health crisis have been [met] with contempt by certain members of this School Committee. You ignored urgent requests for an emergency meeting all summer then held your first meeting with public commentary on Zoom. The fact that you will not hear or face your community during a time of crisis is noted.” Schwartz said.
Amber Cano-Martin who told the committee she has two children in the district, said she was one of many people asking for a public, in-person meeting for several weeks and echoed many calls that Morris should not receive the results of the Title IX investigation or be permitted to take any action in response.
“I’m extremely disappointed that Michael Morris got a buyout that is really the equivalent of two teacher salaries, money we really needed in the district, before we even got the results of the Title IX investigation,” she said. “We had asked that he be put on leave, those calls were ignored.”
Cano-Martin also offered objections to some committee members’ responses to Morris’ departure from the district.
“I’ve seen a lot of public statements by Peter Demling and Ben Herrington about how wonderful Mike is and how big a loss this is for our community, that we’re losing him yet not one of those statements said anything about the children that were harmed,” she said. “We need to be centering children, the School Committee, why is it here if it’s not going to center children?” Cano Martin asked.
Following the lengthy public comment session, the joint committee began discussions as to potential strategies in filling the superintendent position, first on a temporary or acting/interim basis as of Sept. 1 and then further through the calendar year.
Committee members suggested the new committee chairs approach Finance Director Dr. Douglas Slaughter to explore the possibility that he returns to the interim role on a temporary basis as he did when Morris took medical leave in May.
A return to discussions for a review of the options for filling the superintendent role was suggested for the coming week.
In the aftermath of the joint meeting and negative response from the community, both Allison McDonald, and Demling tendered their resignations from the joint committee days after Chair Ben Herrington stepped down.
McDonald cited misdirected and misunderstood debate in support of the students along with other issues.
“I am no longer able or willing to check my emotion and invest my energy in helping the School Committees make sound, fair and equitable decisions, because doing so requires me to sacrifice my own well-being and that of my family in the face of angry and bullying factions bent on destroying the personal character and reputation of anyone who dares to not do as they command,” she wrote.
A day later Demling announced his plans to step down before the completion of his current term, which ends in December.
“I am not resigning because I feel I did anything wrong or acted inappropriately in response to reports of harm to LGBTQ students at ARMS. Despite repeated claims otherwise I have never called these reports false or denied their seriousness,” he wrote in his statement.
“Constant bullying, harassment and intimidation of public figures [both elected and not] is by far the biggest problem with Amherst civic life,” Demling also wrote. “The reason why isn’t ahard to understand: people don’t want to expose themselves to personal attacks.”
Democratic State Committee Member Halley Kelly, a familiar presence during the School Committee meetings, responded to word of McDonald’s and Demling’s resignations.
“If the School Committee members keep using their resignation letters to show their contempt for the Amherst Community, then we should view their resignations as a victory for democracy. People who don’t respect their constituents don’t belong in local government.” Kelly wrote.
Kelly added, “My thoughts reading Peter Demling’s resignation letter today are the same I had yesterday reading Allison McDonald’s letter. After neglecting to meaningfully embrace the criticisms brought by the LGBTQ community, they now want to treat queer people as ‘bullies.’ I know Peter Demling views himself as an LGBTQ ally, but real allies don’t do that.”
With the beginning of the school year swiftly approaching and the results of the Title IX investigation pending, the district now finds itself on a search to replace the superintendent and three School Committee members, a committee under new leadership, plus an assistant superintendent still on administrative leave while the district defends itself against two discrimination complaints.