School Board Meeting November 3, 2022

Concern about personal attacks against speakers. More controversy about books and making union negotiations public.

Personal Attacks Against Speakers

Chairperson Susan Levenson opened the meeting with an apology for having allowed personal attacks in the public comment period of the prior meeting. She advised the speakers at this meeting not to impune the motives of other people. 

Controversial Books

Republican candidate for state legislature, Jake Brouillard complained about the book Melissa. He read out loud some excerpts from the book. This starts at 25:15 in the video. One excerpt talks about clearing the browser history on mom’s computer. Another excerpt talks about surgical removal of sexual organs. He also read a quote from the author, describing it as “a clear intention to indoctrinate our kids in school.” He declared the material to be “very inappropriate” and wanted it out of the school, as he felt it was harmful to both the children and the school. He says he has two kids in the Nottingham School. He’s read the reports of many people who have transitioned and regretted it. He’s afraid for his children. The school should not be teaching things the parents are opposed to.

Budget Committee member Michael Kelly quoted from an article in The Atlantic about the teenage mental health crisis. The article gave four reasons for the crisis. The third reason is that teenagers’ perception of the world is that it has become increasingly stressful. He concluded from this that adults are responsible for this. We have begun exposing children to stressful topics that until just a few years ago were not commonly presented to children. He argued that public schools do not have a right to be delving into political topics with children. He urged the School Board and the voters to agree that the schools should not be presenting politically controversial subjects to school children. 

Another citizen spoke to the same point about political issues, arguing that in a diverse community no group in power should be allowed to use the schools to teach their political views. If a group in power is allowed to do this, it is oppression. This is inconsistent with diversity, tolerance, and liberty. 

Budget Committee member Jeffery Morrison also spoke against the controversial books, arguing that they were inappropriate for younger children. 

An online petition has been started to support keeping the controversial books in the school library. 

Making Union Negotiations Public

Budget Committee member Tom Butkiewicz asked whether the School Board had obtained a definitive statement from the teachers union about whether the union was willing to comply with the town’s warrant article requiring public negotiations. He had requested this in the prior meeting. The School Board has not asked the union for a statement on this.

Budget Committee member Jeffery Morrison spoke to urge the board to make negotiations public and to ensure that the proposed school budget does not exceed the 4% cap enacted by the voters.

Watch the Video

The video of the event was beset with problems. The recording starts long before the meeting began, and in the middle of the meeting the video failed, leaving only audio.  Watch the video: