School Committee members joust anew over minutes, conduct
The disagreement centered on proposed amendments to the January 21 meeting minutes submitted by member Michael Williams.
School Committee tensions that surfaced earlier this year reemerged at the March 18 meeting as members again clashed over meeting minutes and tone.
The disagreement centered on proposed amendments to the January 21 meeting minutes. School Committee Member Michael Williams, who submitted edits, said the changes were necessary “to be sure that the record of our meetings truthfully reflect the events that take place.”
At a February 4 meeting, Williams accused Acton School Committee Chair Andrew Herchek of improperly using open meeting rules to shut down discussion at the January 21 meeting, calling it “weaponizing rules” to silence voices. Herchek defended the action as a legal obligation to keep discussion within posted agenda topics.
That conversation began after Williams expressed disapproval that the January 21 meeting minutes did not include the disagreement. Those same minutes were reviewed again at the March 18 meeting, reigniting the dialogue.
In a prepared statement, Williams asked that the committee approve the minutes with the language he recommended. Herchek said he had “no problem with this amendment” and supported it “totally.”
But Herchek also called the statement “very dramatic,” spurring responses from other members on the committee.
“The microaggressions need to stop,” School Committee METCO representative Ayesha Lawton said, noting she appreciated the context Williams added in his statement. “[You’ve] learned nothing, Andrew, with the way you speak to people on this committee.”
Michelle MacDougall, the School Committee’s other METCO representative, warned that the committee’s conduct was setting a broader, negative example.
‘Modeling behavior’
“We’re modeling behavior for the entire district,” she said. “There’s no wonder there are occurrences of bullying and racism and antisemitism happening when adults in the community cannot even be respectful of one another.”
Asked whether he wanted to add context to statements made at the meeting, Herchek, in an email to The Acton Bridge, said: “There is an established, lawful process for bringing forward changes or agenda items. Suggesting otherwise is incorrect.
“In our last meeting, Mr. Williams accused the chairs of disrespecting him,” he wrote. “In reality, the chairs were following precedent, protocol, and procedures under Massachusetts General Law as articulated by general counsel.”
The January 21 meeting minutes with Williams’ amendments were unanimously approved.
