School Committee decries ‘demeaning’ message targeting Superintendent Laurie Hunter
“This act crosses a line away from civility, to a much uglier and more dangerous place,” School Committee leaders said in an email.
Police are investigating after someone placed a message in Monument Square with what School Committee chairs called “demeaning language” directed at schools Superintendent Laurie Hunter.
Committee Chairs Tracey Marano and Andrew Herchek said the message was on a “scarecrow” found Monday morning.
Police Capt. Brian Goldman described the message as “a sign.” He declined to specify what it said.
“This act crosses a line away from civility, to a much uglier and more dangerous place,” Marano and Herchek told families via a mass email.
They said they “welcome criticism and debate over policies, budgets and individual decisions,” but “[t]here should not, however, be any room in Acton for attacks on people.”
Cody Shepard, a spokesperson with the school district’s public relations firm, forwarded The Acton Bridge a copy of the chairs’ remarks when asked for comment. He referred further questions to the police department.
Police were separately notified about a social media post from the non-profit Acton-Carlisle High School Parents Association that sparked outrage last week.
The September 5 graphic focused on color-coded parking spaces at CCHS and included an illustrated sign saying, “Don’t park in white spots.”
The PA scrubbed the post on September 19, saying in an apology on Instagram and Facebook that the group “is fully committed to an inclusive safe environment for our parents and students.”
DEI Commission members condemned the post in a meeting on Wednesday and unanimously backed a letter requesting further steps from the PA. Requests included new training, a new review process for public messaging, and transparent reporting when incidents happen.
Unlike the anti-Hunter message, Goldman said there was no ongoing investigation about the post.
This breaking story will be updated.
