Westford School Committee Member Quits Mid Meeting

WESTFORD — A member of the school committee resigned abruptly mid-meeting Monday during a discussion about the committee's decision not to renew longtime Superintendent Bill Olsen.

In January, the School Committee took a vote 6 to 1 in favor of not renewing his contract in a closed door executive session. The committee said it planned to transition gently out of respect for Olsen's legacy. But when it came out, the decision was met with much criticism and vitriol in the town, and online.

At the beginning of a town forum Monday, School Committee member Megan Eckroth addressed that vitriol, asking for members of the community to remember that hours of volunteer time and thoughtful discussion went into the decision.

"Our children are watching and listening and I believe we as a community can do better," she said calling for civility.

But after the school committee explained a bit of its process and opened the meeting up to the public, some pressed her, and she abruptly quit.

"You know what, I resign from the school committee," Eckroth said standing up from her chair, picking up her laptop and walking out of the meeting.

Watch the meeting online at WestfordCat.org.

Olsen has been the Westford Superintendent of Schools for more than three decades. His salary last year was $204,400.

The committee has been concerned about the direction of the district for some time, according to School Committee Chris Sanders. The decision to replace the superintendent, he said, was not based solely on the budget factors, though they played a role. He said it was based on a pattern over time of increasing concern for the committee, including concern about communications, potential changes to the district, releasing the budget at the same time as the release to the budget to the public, financial practices that may have violated law and practices that may have violated conflict of interest law.

The superintendent denied those accusations.

Eckroth's full statement at the beginning of the meeting:

"In anticipation of this full room tonight, I did write a brief statement. And I don't know I can leave here without reading it. I promised my husband I was not going to cry. I'll read from a paper, so please bear with me," said Eckroth, choking back tears. "Over the past few months through many meetings reaching almost to midnight, one thing has become very clear to me. This is a difficult job. There are no easy answers no decisions that will please everyone. And known information, both public and private, can lead individuals to different conclusions. I can only imagine that you are all here tonight because you have gathered your own information and come to your own conclusions. It is the job of this committee to base our decisions on factual information. Those decisions are often difficult and involve hours of thoughtful discussion, looking through the lens of what is in the best interest of our students and school district as a whole. Over the past several weeks that process has been questioned and attacked. As a body and as individuals we have received insulting and threatening emails. Mentions of a vote of no confidence and a recall vote have been spread on social media by community members and those hiding behind fake identities. In reference to our roles as school committee members words like 'shameful,' 'disrespectful,' and 'personal agendas,' have been used frequently both on personal pages and in public group forums."

"You can imagine the discomfort I feel sitting here tonight walking in, amongst teachers who have taught my children, sending my children to school, or shopping for groceries in town, knowing that my inbox is full of these messages. "

"As a resident, a parent, and a member of this community who has donated thousands of hours of my life as a Westford Girl Scout leader, school volunteer and school committee member the words that stung the most came in the form of an email I received just last Thursday."

"As I arrived home to my daughters after yet another night away, attending our budget hearing meeting," she said before gathering herself. "The email from a parent was full of anger and insult. And ended with this: 'If you can't share how to make right of this situation, what good are you?'" she fought back tears. 'What good are you?'"

Those words are full of emotion, perception and assumption, but they're very much lacking in factual knowledge and humanity. As a member of this committee I ask that everyone watching, everyone in this room, and everyone that encounters us, and our families remember this: We are all members of this community. We live in this town. We send our children to these schools, and we choose to volunteer our time in these roles. Our children are watching and listening and I believe we as a community can do better."

Related:

Olsen Praised During Yearly Evaluation (2012)

Olsen Announces He Will Forego Bonus (2012)

School Committee Gives Olsen Positive Reviews (2013)

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).