WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Mount Greylock Regional Superintendent Jason McCandless told the School Committee on Thursday that the district had concluded its investigation into a January "Zoom bombing" incident and promised that the district will "move forward better and wiser as a school community and a community in general."
McCandless revealed that the person who intruded in a high school virtual classroom and played racially offensive music was "a young person of color," but quickly noted that the perpetrator's intent was less relevant than the impact it had on the victims.
"Whether this particular incident was based in racism or not … racism is very real," McCandless said. "Bias is very real. It exists in our communities and in every school and in every community across the nation.
"The investigation into this incident suggests that the incident was perhaps not racially motivated. … I certainly do not know what was in [the perpetrators'] mind. I do know that we must continue to work to help the young people who are close to us and young people in general understand that, in the end, an individual's motivation sometimes doesn't matter. What actually matters is how the victim of the incident perceived the motivation and the event."
McCandless said the school district continues to communicate with the student who appeared to be the primary target of the incident and their family.
And he revealed for the first time that there were two perpetrators involved in the events of Jan. 21, the student who trespassed in the virtual classroom and another student who allowed it to happen. The primary perpetrator was a student from a different school district, McCandless reiterated.
He said the school is less interested in seeing either perpetrator punished for their actions than in seeking restorative justice.
"Young people do deserve second chances, and they deserve third and fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh chances," McCandless said. "American history shows that some young people get dozens and dozens of chances, while some young people in America, often because of the color of their skin, get no second chance ever.
"We will not repeat those historical sins here in our community or in our school district. We will work to further develop restorative opportunities, opportunities to learn from mistakes and to make things right. We will continue to work to build character and empathy and understanding rather than build the resentments that come from [issuing] mere punishment and then being done and walking away."
McCandless thanked the administration at the middle-high school and the Williamstown Police Department for their roles in completing the investigation into an incident that touched off numerous conversations in the school community and the community at large.
"No matter what the ultimate outcome of this investigation was nor in the end what the motivation was, we continue to approach our work knowing full well that hate is real, bias is real, racism is real," McCandless said. "It's present in every community everywhere, in every school across the country.
"And we know that we must redouble and triple our efforts to pursue to the very end creating a more inclusive, diverse and just school system where every child and every family know that irregardless of their income level, their ability or disability, their religion, their sexual orientation, how they identify, their race, their culture, their language that they have a home here and they belong here."
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Perhaps the real racists were the interpreters, the out of touch school teachers and administrators who are now over thinking the entire event. Without the true entire trove of information and facts we are all blinded.
Students say teacher Frani Miceli makes learning fun.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Frani Miceli has been selected as the July Teacher of the Month.
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next 12 months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.
Miceli has been teaching for 26 years and has worked to develop a happy, comfortable, and creative learning environment for her pupils.
Through her connection with her students and the decor on her classroom walls, Miceli hopes to help them realize that being kind is possible.
"I have a thing on my wall that says, 'Character is what you do when no one is watching.' So, I hope that they have internalized that," Miceli said.
"We make personal decisions because it's the right thing to do, and sometimes our actions can negatively impact other people, and sometimes they can positively impact other people. So I think happy kids make happy choices, and so I just want them to be happy, engaged children"
Every single one of her students in her morning math class jumped at the opportunity to praise their teacher.
The Select Board on Monday discussed how the town communicates to residents during an emergency and whether residents unaffiliated with Williams College should have access to the same information as college students and staff about incidents on campus. click for more
The Prudential Committee on Wednesday discussed the need for a policy for all call-volunteer firefighters who reach the state's mandatory retirement age.
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The Select Board on Monday was told that it should let the people who walk their dogs in the Spruces Park decide how the 114-acre town-owned park is managed. click for more
The exhibit "Fragile Beauty" fills the pavilion with glass objects from the Corning Museum of Glass, showcasing different cultures, time periods and techniques, and will run through Oct. 27.
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The Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday began its review of the development plan for a new Williams College Museum of Art at the junction of Routes 2 and 7. click for more