School Committee Chairman Littlefield Addresses 'Nasty' Tone of Debate

Editor's Note: This is the complete statement made by Wellesley School Committee Chair Suzy Littlefield before she opened the "Citizen Speak" portion of last night's meeting which was packed with residents concerned with the school administration's actions over the past several months:

We, as a School Committee, acknowledge that the school district has had a rough few months. Issues include , , , as well as a . We are working on each of these issues; work that the community can see in some ways with requested audits we have made, personnel decisions, and policy revisions, but in other ways need to remain confidential on the advice of counsel. Do not doubt for a minute that each of the five of us takes all these issues seriously and is focused on solutions which are best for the district long term.

While we have been facing many negative issues, the district has been quietly celebrating its many successes too. Alas, negative press is so much more attractive than positive. But, that said, we will be moving into an amazing new high school in less than three months, the end of many years of work by countless town residents. Great strides in education are happening in our schools with RTI (intervention) work, curriculum review and teachers who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of their students. Extra curricular events such as Hairspray have charmed the community while our fall sports teams found success on fields, in pools and on cross country trails. We have in place one of the most talented team of principals ever, a real tribute to the administration’s hiring and the community’s support of education.

As a result of the negative issues we are facing and definitely impacted by the economy, there is a heightened anxiety in the community about the schools. With this anxiety has come an unfortunate and increasingly nasty tone among a section of the community. An educator today told me that it feels a lot like bullying, a sad observation as our school district works very hard to prevent bullying.

School Committee welcomes public feedback at Citizen Speak (at the beginning and end of our meetings) and through our outreach account at schoolcommittee@wellesley.k12.ma.us. But we encourage everyone to give feedback in the Wellesley way, one that is respectful, courteous and productive.

The Wellesley way of town government is a reflection of the core values that we, as a school district, operate under each and every day. Our educators strive to breathe life into our core values and we as a School Committee strive to model them as well. As a community it is my hope that everyone here shares them.

Our core values are: Academic Excellence, Commitment to Community, Respect for Human Differences, and Cooperative and Caring Relationships.