PHS Student Rep Will Not Return to School CommitteeBy Joe Durwin, Special to iBerkshires 10:24AM / Monday, January 16, 2012 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Student representative Christian Kennedy says that despite urging from school department officials, he will not reconsider his decision to resign from the Pittsfield School Committee.
Kennedy, who was one of three student representatives who serve as non-voting members on the board, resigned suddenly Thursday following an acrimonious dispute between former chairwoman Kathleen Amuso and newly elected Chairman Alfred Barbalunga.
During Thursday's meeting, Amuso accused Barbalunga of being unfair in his assignment of members to subcommittees and positions as liasons to other groups, such as the critical School Building Needs Commission. Amuso, who has served on the commission the past five years, was perturbed to have been replaced by Katherine Yon. Amuso also accused the new chairman of favoritism toward Yon on two other appointments to the Personnel and Negotiations as well as Policies subcommittees, which Amuso had previously indicated was her top choice.
Barbalunga said little in response to Amuso's objections, except that he believed the former chairman was "best served on the assignments that were provided."
"This is about a much greater thing than any of us individually," said Yon, offering to reliquish appointment to the School Building Needs Commission and "give it back" to Amuso, but Amuso declined.
"This is unbelievable," Amuso said, closing the folder in front of her angrily.
It was at this point Kennedy, representing Pittsfield High, asked to speak, tendering his resignation before leaving the meeting. "I remember joining this committee back in my junior year ... and it's kind of sad to see where it's come to this."
"I was aware that the committee was undergoing some turmoil," said Kennedy, who told iBerkshires his decision to leave was not premeditated. "I was not aware of just how bad the state of the committee was until I attended that last meeting."
Thursday's tensions echoed caustic disagreements the week before at the committee's Jan. 2 inaugural special meeting. Amuso, chairman her previous three terms, made known her strong opposition to Barbalunga's leadership before he was even nominated. After pre-emptively declining nomination herself, the former chairman questioned Barbalunga's attendance and engagement, voicing her adamant belief Barbalunga should not chair the committee. The two further sparred on the committee's new seating arrangement.
"I was extremely disappointed in how the voting committee members handled the situation," Kennedy said of Thursday's difference of opinion over appointments, "and if that is how they choose to handle their business, then that is business I do not wish to be a part of."
While it's been suggested that Kennedy resigned from the board in response to the subcommittee appointments themselves, he indicated that it was more the tone of disagreement on the new committee that lead to his decision to leave in protest.
"I am hoping that this committee can refocus itself and remind itself of its purpose: to give the very best education possible for the kids. Their fate rests in their hands and in the decisions they make, and it does not serve either the committee members nor the kids of Pittsfield Public Schools to 'have it out' on public television."
The Pittsfield High senior said that both the superintendent and deputy superintendent had reached out to him, stating their respect for his actions while asking him to return, but he has politely declined.
"To return to the committee after leaving in the state that I did would do nothing but make a mockery of the very principles and reasons for which I left."
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