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Date: 9/12/2023
AMHERST — In the aftermath of a public upheaval in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District and within the Amherst and Pelham School Committees, measures are being taken to fill four member positions in the coming weeks.
With resignations by Amherst Committee Chair Ben Herrington, member Allison McDonald followed by the departures of Union #26 School Committee Chair Peter Demling and Pelham Committee Chair Sarah Hall, the joint school committee finds itself unable to do business as neither single committee can form a quorum to enact policy.
At least two of the committee members who resigned cited public criticism and harassment as reasons leading to their decisions.
The vacancies occurred late last month following the resignation of Superintendent Michael Morris, in a mutual departure agreement reached between Morris and the joint school committee, an arrangement met with considerable criticism by parents of district students and community members.
It was back in May that Morris took a medical leave of absence as allegations surfaced of improper conduct by staff directed towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community at the Middle School. A Title IX Investigation was initiated, three middle school staffers were placed on leave and Amherst Finance Director Douglas Slaughter was installed as acting superintendent.
Slaughter immediately placed Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, the teacher’s union approved a “no confidence” vote against Morris and Cunningham as well. Cunningham and another educator have filed discrimination complaints against Morris and the district.
With Morris’ permanent departure and Slaughter re-installed in an interim capacity, measures to replace the vacated committee seats will move ahead with candidate interviews at a special joint meeting of the Amherst Town Council and the remaining members of the school committee. The Sept. 26 meeting will continue on into a second meeting on Oct. 2 if required.
According to a statement on the town of Amherst website, the new Amherst School Committee members will also serve on the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and may serve on the Union 26 School Committee and other subcommittees.
Those selected will then be sworn in as soon as possible and are to serve until newly elected members of the Amherst School Committee are sworn in January of 2024 following the Nov. 7 balloting.
The newly selected committed members are to be chosen no later than Oct. 5 with a deadline of Sept. 20 for potential candidates to submit letters of interest for consideration.