"We absolutely condemn racism and the acts that have been taken in our country, in our recent and our past history. "We want to make sure our statement is absolutely correct we want to make sure we get it right," Vaughan said. The committee voted 5-2 to postpone further discussion of the agenda item in order to rework the document. Rimmler had objected to the committee's original drafted statement on racism in the U.S., calling it "disturbing, and at least in one instance, oblivious to the current situation." He proposed revising it into "a more thoughtful, appropriate, proactive statement." The result would be an immediate action plan "to assist the families struggling right now with racism," Vaughan said. We hear him and applaud his courage."ĭuring the meeting, which is available to view at or on Spectrum Channel 1302, School Committee members voted to set up a group, including Cameron, School Committee Chairman Robert Vaughan, committee member David Rimmler and community representatives, including students and family members, to rework the statement addressing racism in the Lenox schools. The union leadership lauded how Kiernan "stood up and challenged our schools to recognize his experience, and the experience of others, as a person of color in our schools. Interim schools Superintendent William Cameron told The Eagle he was not at liberty to discuss issues regarding specific students, citing the federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act. "There should be zero tolerance for the way people of color are being treated in Lenox." They didn't punish students for their actions so they could learn that what they did isn't acceptable," he said, noting that he hopes to make things better for other kids who might come after him. He said other students typically would turn a blind eye to the behavior and act as if nothing happened. "I'm the biggest kid in my grade and the only kid of color in the middle school, and they tried to get me into fights." "I've had stuff like paper clips and staples put in my hair," said Kiernan, who plans to attend Lee High School in the fall. Kiernan, 14, who identifies as biracial, told The Eagle that he had been called a racial slur by at least five white students, starting in sixth grade, with no action taken. In a follow-up interview Tuesday, Kiernan's mother said multiple bullying complaints had been filed with the district administration "and nothing was done." Do better! Why does there have to be some committee to condemn racism?" "You should be ashamed of yourself, and you should talk about it. "Students of color have had zero support from the school system's administration and this town," his mother added. "It is not acceptable," the eighth grade student said, "because we're going to have other students of color, so we need to address this right now. There are kids who are not getting social and emotional learning because they come to school and get assaulted every day."įenton then introduced her great-nephew, Kiernan Conway, and his mother, Eileen Conway, both of whom upbraided the School Committee for not doing more to stop what they described as troubling behavior at the school. Racial tensions have since escalated as Black Lives Matter protest marches continue in cities across the country.ĭuring Monday's remote meeting of the School Committee, Veronica Fenton, a longtime local resident and former School Committee member, cited "a hesitance and fragility in our community of not wanting to address the repeated racial, verbal and physical aggressions to children of color in Lenox. The developments come against the backdrop of police violence against black and brown civilians, including the death of George Floyd last month while in the custody of Minneapolis Police.
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