School Board Votes to 'Move Forward' After Crockett's Remarks

The Board of Education voted Monday night to rescind an earlier motion to hold a hearing into racially insensitive remarks made by board member Michael Crockett. 

The school board unanimously voted May 28, 2013, to hold a special meeting to discuss a series of racially inappropriate and insensitive remarks Crockett is alleged to have made against another school board member, Ron Atwater, and a potential candidate for the vacant superintendent position; Atwater is the only black member of the Board of Education. 

Crockett publicly apologized for those comments at the June 10, 2013, meeting of the Board of Education, and Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini sent an email the next day to board members indefinitely postponing the meeting. 

Pattacini said that he placed an item on the agenda at Monday's meeting to allow the school board to vote to rescind its earlier motion against Crockett "given the recent events." 

"I think it serves as a learning experience and a reminder that we all need to treat each other with respect," Pattacini said of Crockett's comments, adding "I think it's important find a way for the Board to move forward in a constructive manner." 

The Board of Education did not discuss the matter further, and Atwater motioned for a vote to rescind the earlier action taken against Crockett. 

"It's time for us to put this behind us and redirect our energy in the charge that has been trusted to us in educating Manchester's children," Atwater said. "We as a board need to move forward." 

The vote was 6-0 in favor, with Crockett abstaining; board members Sarah Walton and Kelly Luxenberg did not attend the meeting.