Residents continue to show support for O’Shea at meetings

Dec. 5, 2018 | Payton North
payton@thereminder.com

Superintendent Dr. Martin O’Shea.
Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Goudreau.

LONGMEADOW – At the Longmeadow School Committee’s Nov. 27 meeting, the committee once again heard from residents regarding the decision made at the Nov. 14 meeting to not renew Superintendent Dr. Martin O’Shea’s contract in a four to three vote.

At the Nov. 14 meeting hundreds of residents attended in support of O’Shea. Similarly, residents and students attended the Nov. 27 meeting and offered statements during the public comment portion of the meeting. Numerous individuals held signs that read, “Together we stand with Marty.” In addition, since the decision had been made, 38 residents had submitted letters or emails to the Committee, according to a reading of names of correspondence by School Committee Clerk Stephanie Jasmin.

Parent of two children who attend Longmeadow Public Schools Shannon Collins shared her concern over the vote that was taken on Nov. 14. She stated that she appreciates the role that the School Committee has taken to volunteer, but she feels the vote is not supported by the community. Collins then suggested that, respectfully, the committee review the decision that they made.

“If this is not something you are willing to consider, I would strongly suggest you consider resigning from your position on this committee based on the over 1,200 parents, voters and taxpayers to date who have signed a petition asking for just that, your resignation, so we can elect members to our school committee who can represent the constituents that they are elected to serve. I would also support exploring any and all options to legally resolve this issue if a reconsideration vote or resignations aren’t submitted as a result of the overwhelming response of our community,” Collins said.

She referenced a petition which was created by residents and has been circling online on moveon.org. The petition states, “We believe you have not listened to your constituents and had a hidden agenda to set up Marty to fail. We have no faith in your leadership and know that no one will work with you going forward.” The petition has been signed by 1,327 individuals as of Dec. 4. The petition continues to ask for the resignation of the four School Committee members who voted against the renewal of O’Shea’s contract: School Committee Chair Elizabeth Barron, Clerk Stephanie Jsmin, Vice Chair Kerrin Morrin and member Melanie Rothstein.

Resident Jen Falcone spoke on behalf of the School Committee during this portion of public comment, stating that she has spoken to other members of the community who agree with the School Committee’s decision but are afraid to speak up.

“This town is deeply divided right now. It’s time for our School Committee to begin the process of hiring a superintendent who can bring everyone together again. We have a long road ahead of us,” Falcone said.

Numerous students spoke at the meeting, including a group of four Longmeadow High School students: Patrick, Matt, James and Jillian.

“As members of the School Committee, you see things about our superintendent [that] we do not. However, you also do not see things we see. As students of the high school, we constantly feel Dr. O’Shea’s presence. No matter when or where school events are taking place, our superintendent is always present,” Matt read.

Patrick picked up where Matt left off, questioning the committee, “How do we find someone who is capable of filling such big shoes? Who is going to want to lead a district knowing the faculty and students have no voice? Who is going to want to lead a district knowing the relationship between the School Committee and the community is severed? Who is going to want to lead a district that has recently been all over the news because of its recent shambles when it was reported that the personal vendettas of the school committee was the cause of it? Who would want to come into this? What kind of quality leader would come here?”

Resident and parent Kevin Shea came before the committee and explained that he attended the Nov. 14 meeting and since then he has reflected “a lot” on what happened and had thought about what everyone had said. He stated he hoped the committee has also taken time to reflect.

“Clearly there’s communication issues between Marty and the School Committee, but it comes down to what are the other things,” he said, noting the other responsibilities of the superintendent role. Shea continued to explain that it’s clear there are communication issues between O’Shea and the School Committee, and that the members of the committee who voted no prioritize the issues of communication.

“I would urge you to prioritize the students response, the parents response, and staff response. It’s clear that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. I want a superintendent whose strengths are focusing on the kids, the staff, the administration, and communicating with parents. Those are the priorities that I want,” Shea related.

At the close of public comment, School Committee member Armand Wray thanked the members of the community for attending.

“This is truly a demonstration of the political action at a local level. This is why we have town meetings; democracy in its truest form,” he said. “Your thoughts, your concerns are not going unheard by here, by me, and I know by others.”

In a letter to the editor to the Longmeadow News, School Committee Chair Elizabeth Barron wrote that she wanted to assure the community that everything she does a School Committee member is done in the best interest of the town’s students and the entire school district.

“There have been too many concerns and issues with the superintendent’s overall performance and working relationship with the school committee for me to support a continuation of his employment,” she wrote. “Our district and our students deserve better. I believe that is why the senior, majority of the School Committee could not vote to renew the superintendent’s contract.”

A special meeting of the School Committee was held on Dec. 5 with the agenda listing a presentation by a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) on a process for having a superintendent of schools, including but not limited to recruiting and screening of applicants and selection. Additionally, under new business was listed, “A review of quotations, bids, proposals from interested vendors/organizations to provide services including but not limited to recruitment and initial screening of applicants for the position of superintendent of schools to the School Committee and vote on the selection of such a vendor/organization to provide such services. Determination and vote on the make–up of a search committee for the hiring of the position of superintendent.” Reminder Publishing could not include the events of the Dec. 5 meeting in this article as the meeting was held past press time.

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