Kelton O’Connell

A 4-3 affirmative vote of former BHSN teacher and current Board Vice President April Hennessey’s motion resolved to delay the decision by at least one year until more information is gathered. After a tension-filled, five-hour school board meeting on October 24, with a standing room crowd of parents, students, and community members, the board of school trustees voted to take control of the decision on the new high school schedules.
Following protests outside of the Co-Lab administration building where the meeting took place, the meeting began with a request by board member April Hennessy to amend the agenda for additional discussion of the schedule change following public comment. During the meeting, 45 people, many of them students, spoke about the proposed schedule change. Throughout the meeting, some held protest signs behind the podium and in the live stream camera’s view. Board President Brandon Shurr had to repeatedly ask speakers not to mention personnel matters or specific district employees by name as some disregarded the rules of public discussion. After the almost two and half hours of public comments were finished, an open discussion between the board members and Dr. Hauswald occurred. The superintendent was questioned about the lack of data and transparency throughout the process.
Board member Ashley Pirani pressed Dr. Hauswald to explain what the urgency was in making the change next Fall for the 2024-2025 school year. Hauswald responded, “The urgency is we have a significant number of students …” before Pirani cut him off.
“What are the numbers? I want to know the numbers of the students that are impacted. I do believe that we’re doing all this work, but when asking for the numbers I get a runaround. What are the numbers that equate to such an urgency that we would disengage our community?” said Pirani.
Hauswald responded that 100 students had been forced to transfer due to factors such as housing insecurity over the past five years.
Hennessy motioned to pause the change of schedules until at least the next school year. Joining via Zoom, she outlined what she believed was the best solution. After explaining why she believed the original plan was rushed, she proposed that in future dealings on this issue, data should be more transparent, a citizens’ advisory committee should be created, conversations with the teachers’ association should occur, and a continuation of focus groups should be implemented.
“I’d ask that we do so with a process that is above board, that builds trust rather than diminishes it, and does so in a way that is data informed, measurable and collaborative with the stakeholders who have entrusted us to lead,” Hennessey said.
The vote commenced just before 11 pm and the final tally was 4-3 in favor of delaying the change. Board members Vice President April Hennessey, Erin Cooperman, Ashley Pirani, and Erin Wyatt voted for the motion. Board members President Brandon Shurr, Ross Grimes, and Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer voted against the motion.
Going forward, the board and other MCCSC stakeholders will work in coordination with administration to determine what, if any, changes should take place.