Members note anger and discourse from families
By Dakota Antelman, Contributing Writer
Hudson – Hudson’s School Committee approved hybrid reopening for students this fall, but the decision was not made easily, members noted. As they recounted the criticisms they have received via phone calls, emails, and on social media at their Aug. 7 meeting, several members spoke of that stress.
Speaking at the end of their latest round of reopening deliberations, committee member Rebecca Weksner broke down in tears, then criticized the tone of the now weekslong debate. Joined in emotion by other board members and district administrators, Weksner then cast her “no” vote in a split 4-3 committee decision that ultimately favored hybrid learning.
“I have felt absolutely intimidated and bullied,” Weksner said of her experience hearing public comments on this topic. “I understand the passion and I can respect the passion. But I don’t respect the delivery.”
Hudson’s meeting, August 7, was the latest in which the community at large weighed whether to partially reopen schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic or remain in a fully online model when the school year starts next month.
Continuing to present his district’s plan, Superintendent Marco Rodrigues promoted the hybrid option. As he and the committee spoke, Rodrigues saw support from school committee member Adam Tracy as well as a district affiliated pediatrician.
“People are going to have to choose between going to their job…or do they stay at home?” Tracy said. “That is a choice that many parents are going to have to face…I cannot support a remote decision because I don’t believe it’s best for the students.”
At least at their meeting, though such supporters of a hybrid reopening were in the strong minority.
Multiple school committee members expressed fears about reopening classrooms. In public participation at the outset of the meeting, a large group of parents and vocal recent Hudson High School graduates similarly opposed the hybrid model.
“This is not the school experience that I want for my son or my students,” Kristen Charbonneau, a district teacher and parent said.
“By the time we know we have one case, we’re going to have other people infected and we’re going to end up closing down and going remote by the end of the year,” School Committee Member Glenn Maston warned.
Member Nina Ryan led a lengthy portion of the meeting going back and forth with Rodrigues about concerns specifically over an opt in remote learning option for parents who don’t feel comfortable with hybrid learning.
Many members of the public worried the model has not been adequately developed and criticized a lack of communication about what that kind of learning would actually look like should the school committee favor the broader hybrid option.
“We can’t have all the answers,” Rodrigues said in response. “We’re living day by day right now.”
With a final vote nearing later in the meeting, newly elected chair Steven Smith led a somber roll call to approve hybrid learning.
Michele Tousignant Dufour opened by voting “no.”
Maston, sitting momentarily in silence, also voted “no.”
Matt McDowell, Tracy and Smith all voted yes.
Then came Weksner and Ryan, who had asked Smith to “come back to me” earlier.
Members acknowledged that they’d received hundreds of emails from members of the public for and against hybrid reopening.
“We are community members just like everybody else,” Weksner said. “We are parents…To try to imply that any of us are acting in a reckless manner, I don’t have the words to describe that.”
Rodrigues defended her.
“The level of discourse in this community far overreached the sense of decency,” he said. “We have been the recipient of some very, very nasty opinions in emails.”
Weksner ultimately voted “no.”
Ryan voted “yes.” And the motion passed.
With the school year now approaching, administrators will finalize the chosen hybrid plan with plans to circulate a survey to parents asking who wants to opt into the full-time remote learning option.
“Hopefully we can all work together and move forward and do the best given the circumstances,” Smith said.
