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Westhampton Beach board of education members respond to parents asking what will be done about perceived racism in the school district during the May 10 meeting.
“It was one of the greatest attempts at gaslighting I have ever experienced,” Westhampton Beach parent Mary Alyce Rogers said. “The way they calmly lie, deny the truth and gaslight is totally amazing. I am still shaking.”
The clinical social worker and therapist is referring to the responses she received from the Board of Education during Monday night’s meeting when asking for Westhampton Beach School District’s response to a Southampton Press article about perceived racism in the district.
“The board president, Sue Mensch, called me a bully for continuing to attend board meetings and asking them to address the issues,” Ms. Rogers said. “She said I was abusive and bullying the board members.”
Board of Education President Suzanne Mensch attempted to interrupt the parent as she was addressing the board. Ms. Rogers repeated to the trustees that her daughter has experienced, and her family has reported, school bias and discrimination since elementary school, both due to learning differences and perceived race.
“Although it’s too late to help my children, it’s not too late to help others in this district,” Ms. Rogers said. “During two meetings I addressed board members and got a ‘Thank you for sharing.’ … It’s been reported over and over with no meaningful consequences or change. Instead of continuing to deny it exists, and statements like ‘thank you for sharing,’ who will be the board member with the courage to say to those that are experiencing the harm: ‘We see you. We hear you. And how can we help?’”
Ms. Mensch was quick to respond.
“Okay, here is what I’m going to tell you: I will be the board member that has to say to you that you come here repeatedly and abuse seven volunteers of the community who donate a tremendous amount of unpaid time to all of our students in this district,” the board president said. “You come here and abuse our administration and staff, repeatedly, to the point where the last time you were here, it was borderline harassment. It’s embarrassing, and honestly, the only person that I see in this room that’s behaving like a bully is you. I’ve had enough.”
Ms. Rogers said she’s the one who has had enough.
“You have no consideration for any of these kids who are being harmed,” the parent said. “You want to turn the tables and make me the bully because I’m bringing it to your attention.”
Ms. Mensch said any student spoken to in any academic or disciplinary manner cannot be addressed publicly. After the meeting, she said the board is committed to promoting policies and programs that provide students with a safe and inclusive educational environment free from discrimination and bias.
“As we take proactive steps to address concerns and outcomes … we welcome the opinions of our community and invite them to share their thoughts and ideas in a respectful and constructive manner,” Ms. Mensch said. “However, we will not tolerate verbal attacks on the character of our students, staff or fellow board members. Per Board of Education policy 1230, all speakers are to conduct themselves in a civil manner and the board will not permit discussion involving individual district personnel or students in public session.”
Ms. Rogers called the entire situation “unreal.”
“The two friends that accompanied me, Alexis Gersten and Kim Galway, are still in disbelief and shock over what just happened,” she said. “When I stated that it was upsetting and embarrassing to read all of the accounts of discrimination in the article and asked them how they were going to address it, they said: ‘Well that is your fault.’”
Ms. Galway, a child therapist in Westhampton Beach, took a moment to address the board after Ms. Mensch’s response, saying she does not see Ms. Rogers abusing anyone.
“I see her speaking passionately about her experience,” she said. “I read the article. I was very disturbed by it. Post-article, are there any plans to address the discrimination that does happen in the school? I want to see our community be more inclusive, see our community be a better place for our children and families. I see it’s really needed.”
Board member Heather Wright said her elementary school student and his classmates over the years have continually been taught to be kind to one another and respect differences.
“I think it starts from home, as well, and what we teach our children,” she said. “While the teachers and the school do the best that they can to teach inclusivity and kindness, I also think we have to remind the public.”
Board member Stacy Rubio said with Ms. Rogers’s and Ms. Galway’s knowledge, on the topic and in their fields, she’s hoping to work with them on the Equity Committee the district recently created.
After the meeting, Superintendent Michael Radday said the district is committed to fostering an environment of fairness, equity, kindness and respect for all.
“We value the diversity of our community,” Mr. Radday said. “The district is willing to collaborate with anyone in the community who wishes to participate positively and productively in the work being done by the Equity Committee to address the concerns that have been expressed.”
Ms. Rogers said over the years she’s met privately with administrators and the board to continue to address the issue and call for education and consequences for student action, but called the environment a toxic one.
“At the end of the day, I’m being called a bully for trying to help students,” Ms. Rogers said. “And who is being bullied? These children are being bullied. Do they not care about these students? These are our children.”
