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07/20/2021 12:45 PMA regular meeting by the Board of Education (BOE) on July 12 saw about a dozen people show up ostensibly to protest a contract extension for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Freeman, but also speaking out as part of a long-term effort to oppose the district’s social justice and equity initiatives.
During the public comment portions of the July 12 meeting, about 10 people spoke over the course of more than an hour. Their specific objections and stories varied, including people asking to opt out of gender inclusive curriculum, criticizing implicit bias tests and history curriculum, and accusing Freeman and the BOE of lying to the community.
Many of those who attended are part of a local grassroots parent group called Truth In Education, which hosted a well-attended gathering at the Community Center last month protesting what they say is “critical race theory indoctrination” at Guilford schools. They have accused Freeman and others of implementing divisive, anti-White, or Marxist practices at the school, though often with only tenuous connections to actual district initiatives.
Freeman himself did not attend the meeting; BOE Chair Katie Balestracci said he had a previous commitment.
Danielle Scarpellino, a local mother who has been one of the most frequent and outspoken critics of Freeman, demanded at the outset that the BOE table discussions on Freeman’s contract extension until after the November election.
“It is your duty as elected officials to heed the public’s profoundly serious concerns,” Scarpellino said.
Balestracci did not say explicitly at the beginning of the meeting whether the BOE planned to extend Freeman’s contract when confronted by Scarpellino, though a vote on his salary was required, she said.
The BOE ended up unanimously approving both a 4.25 percent raise and a one-year extension for Freeman through 2024, with members speaking effusively in support of his work over the last 10 years.
“The gift of a very strong superintendent that stays that long in the community gives a continuity of instruction, a continuity of leadership, and a continuity of management. That really makes a huge difference,” said Balestracci.
“Everyone knows how challenging this last year and a half has been for everyone,” said BOE member Amy Sullivan. “And I feel that Paul has done an excellent job steering that ship this year.”
Truth In Education appears to be targeting the November elections, following a path laid out by other similar groups around the country that have attempted to oust local boards of education over the alleged teaching of Critical Race Theory.
“We expected some of you to consider [tabling Freeman’s contract], and none of you did,” Scarpellino said.
Specific Guilford initiatives to which Scarpellino and Truth In Education have objected include exercises asking teachers to score curriculum based on inclusion of perspectives outside of Eurocentric ideas and culture and an activity shared on the district website asking people to reflect on racially based experiences in their own lives. They have also asked for the BOE to host a public forum on Critical Race Theory.
Scarpellino also led the most contentious interactions of the night, several times interrupting BOE members as she spoke from the podium and repeatedly shouting from the back row of the audience, accusing Balestracci of being “very condescending” and saying that she was “tired of the lies.”
Other speakers included a parent who claimed his son had been bullied and physically assaulted by another student for his political beliefs. That man connected both the bullying and assault to Freeman’s social equity initiatives, adding that he did not think his son received the same sympathy, attention, or justice as a non-White student would have.
“Were the roles reversed, there would be outrage,” he said. “And there should be outrage.”
The student who attacked his son received only a one-day suspension, according to the parent. Freeman has previously declined to discuss specific incidents of discipline or bullying in the schools, citing district policy, and Balestracci reiterated that the BOE would not address these things publicly either.
Another speaker said his granddaughter had been withdrawn from the district and was being homeschooled due to the “present environment.”
Bill Maisano, a former police officer, spoke at length about wanting to shield his children from the kind of ideas that Guilford was teaching, including certain kinds of history or that their are more than two sexes, citing his Catholic faith. He asked if the BOE would allow parents to opt out of these things, claiming they were creating divisiveness and an environment where people were unkind of each other.
“I would never, ever allow [my children] to be unkind to anyone for any reason,” Maisano said. “And that’s not just race or religion—that’s down to just being mean about the size of someone’s nose.”
Maisano assisted Truth In Education at last month’s rally, where he was overheard asking a protester who was playing Martin Luther King, Jr., speeches on her phone if she “took [her] meds,” and calling her “a nasty mouth.”
Balestracci and the BOE made it clear that they continue to have tremendous confidence in Freeman, and that the social justice and equity initiatives have also received widespread support from the community. Last summer, hundreds of residents spoke in favor of this work in the district, including an ongoing curriculum audit, and urged the district to continue it during the pandemic
A couple residents also spoke out in support of Freeman at the July 12 meeting. Lisa Kelly said she believed Guilford’s work was helping students understand the “full context” of subjects in order to be “productive and successful in their future communities.”
Dr. Jennifer Scoggin, who said she works as a school literacy coach, said she has always been “very proud” that Guilford’s decisions have been “in line” with research and best practices in inclusive education.
Balestracci ended the meeting with a plea that residents reach out and learn what the equity and social justice initiatives look like specifically in Guilford rather than relying on hearsay or controversies at the national level, urging people to email teachers and BOE members if they have questions.
“I’m just going to ask that people not make assumptions but find out as much as you can—find out about what this initiative is about,” she said. “This initiative is not putting anyone down. This initiative is about making sure every student is heard, and every student is recognized.”