Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/5/2023
WESTHAMPTON — On June 22, members of the five school committees of the Hampshire Regional School District voted almost unanimously to reject the candidacy of Erica Faginski-Stark for assistant superintendent. The Zoom meeting was attended by 148 people. Many who spoke also questioned the leadership of Superintendent Diana Bonneville, who offered Faginski-Stark the job.
The superintendent hosted the public meeting on Faginski-Stark’s candidacy, not a requirement in the hiring process, after staff members voiced reservations. Students also protested outside her office and in the parking lot on the day before the meeting. The complaints arose because the candidate posted an image online that was interpreted as transphobic. The superintendent’s insistence on
Faginski-Stark as the premier candidate then set the stage for a brutal public shaming.
Faginski-Stark, who holds a doctorate in education from Boston College, was accused of racism and transphobia by students, parents, School Committee members and staff. The director of curriculum and instruction in the Ludlow school district, Faginski-Stark managed little defense of an online posting that featured a transgender athlete winning a race with the finish line tape trailing behind.
“It’s important that we look at what you posted,” said Ryan Schiff, vice chair of the Williamsburg School Committee. “Tell me how this is any different from a racist character or an anti-semitic character?’
“We are talking about the competition of athletes, cisgender and transgender,” Faginski-Stark said. “I don’t think it relates to that.”
“I don’t see how any transgender student wouldn’t be deeply offended,” Schiff said. “Do you see that it’s deeply offensive?...Do you see how the way you did it, that image, is seen by people as deeply hurtful and hateful?”
Faginski-Stark apologized for posting the image. She claimed she did not know the source website, which features hundreds of videos on dozens of webpages, also published transphobic content. She apologized for failing to check. She apologized for any injured feelings students may have had after looking at the image. She explained that, having been a Division 1 athlete, her purpose for the post was to point to the shortcomings of athletic oversight at the college level.
“The post, I made [it] with the intention of asking about equity and inclusion in a female competitive environment, as well as to look at current policies of the NCAA,” Faginski-Stark said, referring to the National College Athletic Association. “My posts did not characterize what my intentions were…My intention was to raise awareness around women athletes on the playing field, both cisgender and transgender.”
The meeting began with a public comment period when speakers were given three minutes to make their position known. The first statement was made by student Alice Jenkins, “a name I have carefully and proudly created through advocacy in the last year.”
“This disrespects someone else’s existence,” Jenkins said. “You cannot so blatantly disrespect students like that and expect them to comply and respect administration. Enough respect has been lost already in the selection of this candidate, and I would hate to see this continue to unfold.”
Community member Wes Powers echoed Jenkins’ point of view, but also implied there was a quid pro quo, an exchange of benefits, between Faginski-Stark and Bonneville, who hoped to be coworkers. Powers also asked why Faginski-Stark was under consideration after she withdrew from the Easthampton superintendent search, which was also contentious.
“Why would Hampshire Regional play with fire on this issue?” Powers asked. “This is a test…of Dr. Bonneville’s leadership.”
Mary Ellen Woods, a special education teacher and president of the teachers union in the district, also spoke to the superintendent’s unwillingness to listen to community members. Woods’ comments suggested the superintendent’s relationship with the teaching staff has already been damaged by her preference for Faginski-Stark.
“As the union president I am charged with ensuring our staff feel safe and supported,” Woods said. “I’ve already had staff in my office in tears over the decision.”
A former School Committee member identified as Sherry commented that the process Bonneville followed was not transparent. Sarah Welsch, partner to a trans person, said the trust between the town of Williamsburg and the school department would suffer if Faginski-Stark was hired. She was also confused why Bonneville voiced positive feelings about the candidate. Another former School Committee member, identified as Sharon, didn’t think Faginski-Stark was competitive.
“Frankly,” Sharon said, “I don’t know who else would pick her up.”
Bonneville, who could not be reached for comment, asserted several times the hiring committee followed an open and inclusive process. According to the superintendent, the hiring committee, which consisted of staff, teachers and School Committee members, all agreed the district would be in good shape if any of the four final candidates were hired.
“She came off as very intelligent and well spoken,” Bonneville said. “I was very impressed with her reference checks. I spoke with superintendents, assistant superintendents. They said we’d be lucky to have her.”
Bonneville said the references trusted and respected Faginski-Stark, now in her seventh year as the director of curriculum and instruction in Ludlow, a position that performs roughly the same duties as the position she applied for at HRSD. Bonneville said Faginski-Stark earned A+ ratings from everyone contacted and had a solid and steady work history.
“I recognize she made a poor decision,” Bonneville said, “but we’ve all made poor decisions. It’s just unfortunate that it was so public. But we are a forgiving community.”
Georgiana Frazier spoke up as a concerned student. They condemned transphobia, but urged the school community to end the arguments and have conversations about the situation instead.
“I believe that if someone else’s actions do not harm you or others, they are not yours to protest,” Frasier said. “I do not want to define her by one action.”
Amanda Menir said she spent several years researching transgender participation in sports. She found predatory and abusive coaches and lack of funding are primary concerns. She asked School Committee members to review the evidence and the history of women’s sports. Menir said sports, as they are played today, are inherently unfair.
New Hingham School Committee member Don Willard also didn’t want to characterize Faginski-Stark on the basis of one choice. She apologized for the post, Willard said, so he took exception to the way Faginski-Stark was being portrayed. He also repeated that the hiring committee found many elements of Faginski-Stark’s application “great.”
“I’ve heard words tonight, in this meeting, inclusivity, empathy, compassion, kindness, acceptance and tolerance,” Willard said. “I really struggle with not giving those same characteristics to this one person. I struggle with this because we are saying we do all this stuff, but then we’re picking out one thing. Everybody else agreed that everything else is great.”
Barbara Bak, also a member of the New Hingham School Committee, voiced what seemed to be a point of consensus.
“I feel terrible that this has happened to her,” Bak said, apparently referring to Faginski-Stark’s public humiliation. “But I also feel that if we don’t listen to all the people in our community we would be making a mistake.”
Peter Cleary, a member of the Southampton School Committee, was one of the last to speak prior to voting on the candidate. He made it clear the mistake had already been made by Bonneville.
“This proposal to hire this candidate added a very personal, very direct and very hurtful effect. There are people who Diana’s response may have caused them to cry, in fear for their child,” Cleary said. “I’d like to discuss this and put it on the agenda of future meetings of the School Committee of Hampshire Regional School District.”
The five school committees each entertained a motion. Two members abstained, while all others present voted against offering Faginski-Stark a place in the district.