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HOLDEN, Mass. — Members of the Wachusett Regional School District Committee were at odds Monday night over a motion that would review guidelines for members' contacts with outside state or private agencies, with some claiming this would amount to censorship.
The School Committee voted 9-7 in support of member Margaret Watson's recommendation, which would have the Management Subcommittee consider whether a policy should be developed.
"The problem seems to me that individual members are going out in individual directions, consulting with various agencies, and the committee needs to speak with one voice," said Watson.
"I'm not questioning the motives of committee members because I'm sure we all want what's best for the district, but if we need to consult with district counsel, the district attorney or the [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Department of Revenue], it needs to come here, and we need to vote on it."
But member Stacey Jackson opposed the motion, saying it was their responsibility as elected officials to fact-check and get details to make informed decisions.
"We sit here as role models for the students we represent, and this motion sends the message to them of 'don't ask questions, rely on someone else's information, and just do what you are told,'" she said.
Furthermore, Jackson said the district's difficulties did not occur from unauthorized contacts to state agencies but said individuals had sought help and counsel because of the problems.
"The problems that we are now having with the Department of Revenue are not a result of Member [Julie] Kelley's phone call to them," she said. The problems resulted from overspending the budget by $1.2 million and the superintendent making transfers after the July 15 deadline.
The motion was not an effort to censor committee members, committee chair Duncan Leith said. It simply refers the motion to the Management Subcommittee for further consideration, with the school committee to then vote on its recommendation.
"I think it's common courtesy to bring issues and concerns to the committee, but you have rights as individuals and as a school committee member, too," he said.
Comments (13)
Poor Maximus, how sad you still think that Margaret Watson’s Orwellian attempts to restrict the free speech rights of members of her own school committee are acceptable.
Perhaps you have forgotten that their failure to ask questions is what got Margaret Watson and her SC into their latest $3+ million fiasco in the first place.
Hilarious.
Mr. Ed, who has stalked, photographed, intimidated, hounded, harrassed, and sued any number of people who have disagreed with him or asked questions he didn't like, is now Holden's champion of free speech.
Flat-out hilarious.
Come on now, it's been six hours since you've demanded resignations, Mr. Ed...
Nine people voted yes on this CRAZY motion! Remember those nine names! Vote them out of office in May! It is time for this communist group of school committee members to be voted out. Ms. Watson.. you are quickly becoming the laughing stock of the region. Duncan Leith may be a nice guy but certainly does not seem to be the brightest bulb in the world. This is censorship and communism at it's best. Why don't you bunch of clowns show as much energy in uncovering what happened to the $2.7 million in missing funds!? This attempt to cover up and censor those who are in pursuit of the truth is just plain wrong! Remember to get out and run for office residents! The best way to silence these clowns is to VOTE THEM OUT!
Dave, I too support free speech and I agree that selectmen and school committee members do have the right to use their elected titles ‘WHEN AND ONLY WHEN’ they are conducting ‘legitimate’ select board or school committee business.
Kenny O’Brien used the title selectman in a number of letters which had nothing to do with his former position as a selectman in the Town of Holden including one blasting then state representative Lew Evangelidis.
How would you have felt if Mr. O’Brien had written a letter to the Boston Globe praising the use of medical marijuana or a letter in support of or opposition to gay marriage and signed his name ‘Kenny O’Brien – Selectman Town of Holden, MA’? Such abuse of the title would clearly be inappropriate.
Margaret Watson’s Orwellian attempts to infringe upon the use of an elected official’s title for ‘legitimate’ school committee business is absolutely WRONG! Ms. Watson is upset that one or more members of the school committee asked legitimate, school committee related, questions of an appropriate state agency.
The answers to those questions revealed a violation of state law by superintendent Thomas Pandiscio with regard to transferring funds after the close date for their fiscal year. Had those legitimate questions not been asked the WRSD would likely have continued their illegal practice of moving money after the fiscal year close date.
The school committee spends nearly $90 Million of our tax money every year. They need to be open and transparent. They should not be censoring their own members and Margaret’s ridiculous motion is censorship at its worst. It should be defeated.
Ed, You have totally missed my point again and you spin it the way you want. I said that the new “policy” is wrong. I support the school committee members that called to ask questions. As elected officials it is their right and obligation to do so.
I simply question people that selectively fee outrage when elected public officials speak out. If people agree with them it is ok and if people don’t it isn’t.
One thing getting overlooked here is these folks SERVE on the School Committee. They represent the people of thier respective towns. Most seem to have forgotten this one small matter. Only one SC member seems to abide by the people who sent her to represent them. But I guess this is just one more thing to blame on Rutland and to hear what some SC and BOS members have said, this whole thing is Rutland's fault for not approving the budget in the first place. I am a Chairman on a board and have always wholeheartedly supported any member to seek advice, counsel and education on any issue because it only further ensures better decisions being made by the board. I don't forget that I serve at the pleasure of the people voting for me or appointing me. The primary mission should be to serve thier needs to the best of my and the other members abilities. Transparency of all actions of the board are paramount to the electorate. Topics that can or are controversial need to be brought to the forefront and public participation encouraged. Seeking to restrict the free flow of information will never serve the publics best interests.
Dave,
You seem to have forgotten that the issue with Kenny O’Brien was making calls and writing letters while using his selectman title for issues which had nothing to do with our select board.
You may recall the letter to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance that Kenny O’Brien cosigned with Cindy Bazinet (who used her title as a school committee member), Maureen Maximus and her husband Larry.
That letter, which they thought would remain anonymous, blasted HAT, me and then town manager Brian Bullock. It had nothing to do with our select board or town business. You perhaps have also forgotten the Letter to the Editor Kenny O’Brien wrote blasting then state representative Lew Evangelidis. A letter in which Mr. O’Brien again used his then selectman’s title. Yet another letter which had nothing to do with our select board or town business.
Now, on top of the school committee’s latest $3+ Million budget blunders and their total lack of transparency, Margaret Watson is attempting to censor members of her own school committee who are asking legitimate, school committee related questions. What’s wrong with this picture?
Had it not been for the initiative taken by one or two school committee members to contact the Department of Revenue superintendent Tom Pandiscio may well have continued his illegal practice of transferring money between accounts after the end of the fiscal year.
The school committee spends nearly $90 Million of our taxe money every year. They need to open and transparent. They should not be censoring their own members. Margaret’s ridiculous motion is censorship at its worst. It should be defeated.
Ed, I had not forgotten any of it, in fact I remembered all of it, that’s why I brought it up. Whether or not the business he was commenting on was town business or not he still held the title. I may not have liked what he was doing but it was his right. So on this front I believe Ken’s entire support group Margaret, Maureen and the rest of them are being selective in their outrage over school committee members making calls on this financial matter.
The same holds true here the school committee members have a right to contact whoever they want about anything they want. When they do they are always school committee members so I support their actions whatever the issue. In this case I believe that you are being selective in your support of free speech. Where I was wrong for Ken and Cynthia it is ok now.
It should not matter what the subject is and whether you agree with the position or not the right to speak up should never be silenced in this way.
Watson: Still circling the wagons around this scandal? Can't wait for the next budget request to come up. This committee is a joke, which recently came up with a propoganda web site that doesn't accept any opinions but those of this discredited bunch. Watson, Leith, Bazinet, please leave. MANY of us have had enough of this occupying army. Let's get K-8 out NOW.
"Let's get K-8 out NOW."
This was always the plan of Holden Associated Taxpayers and its two former leaders who sit on the Holden selectboard.
I generally disagree with Margaret and Mr. Meyer on most everything. I also believe that Duncan Leith is a good man. On this one I believe everyone is being a little dishonest with their outrage.
If you all remember back several years ago Ken O’Brien was making calls to Boston regarding town of Holden business. He was doing it outside of the BOS view and was telling the people on the other end that he was a BOS member. In that case Mrs. Watson, a strong O’Brien supporter, sat silent and thought it was all right. At the same time Mr. Meyer was all over Mr. O’Brien for making this contact and signing a letter that he was on the Holden BOS without BOS authorization.
Neither can have it both ways. If it was wrong for Ken then it is wrong for school committee members. And if it was all right for Ken then it is all right for school committee members.
I believe people get elected and by virtue of that fact they should not be governed by a set of rules the body wants to adopt to silence them.
I hope the committee being formed will research how many other school districts in the US have policies that bar members from communicating with state agencies. My guess is zero, zip, zilch. However, a search outside the US might provide the committee with some guidelines from communist countries. I suspect passing such a rule would be illegal because it restricts
Constitutional rights - freedom of speech based on sound and reliable sources.
Margaret Watson’s ridiculous motion is censorship at it’s best.
Let’s not let anyone ask questions that might be embarrassing to the school committee like why are they keeping a second set of books or that might show the WRSD has done something illegal like why are they moving money between accounts after the fiscal year deadline.
Margaret’s motion is clearly censorship at it’s best. Way to go Margaret Watson. Way to go Duncan Leith.
You two really do need to resign before you do any more damage to the reputation of the WRSD.