For over an hour Tuesday morning, the Mamaroneck Board of Education listened to parents and former students demand the resignation of schools Superintendent Robert Shaps, contending he had responded poorly to incidents of racism in the district.
“Black and brown students in our district have spoken out about the racism that they've endured,” said Mamaroneck alumna Lily Epstein.
But the school board was unconvinced, offering its unequivocal support to Shaps.
“You have said that you want Dr. Shaps to resign," newly-appointed school board President Rina Beder said after a dozen people spoke. "We've clearly stated that we support Dr. Shaps 100%.”
“At this point, I think that we are at a standstill,” Beder said.
Tuesday's 9 a.m. meeting was the board’s annual reorganization meeting, which does not usually draw a crowd.
But this year, protesters began gathering outside Mamaroneck High School at 8 a.m., and about 40 people were there when the school doors opened. Only 15 were allowed into the board's meeting room to maintain social distancing, and the rest watched on monitors in classrooms.
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The meeting was the first after last week’s “Camp Out for Change,” organized by 2019 Mamaroneck graduate Aileen Morales.
Beginning on June 29, Morales and a small, rotating group of others camped out in front of Mamaroneck High School for five days and four nights. The Camp Out culminated in a community forum on Friday, which drew over 100 community members.
Shaps' critics say the Mamaroneck schools need to change the way they handle problems faced by minority students. Tuesday's speakers tried to make the case that Mamaroneck has an entrenched problem with racism and needs a big change in leadership to address it, a criticism that has been shared by some in the community for the last two years.
“Calling for the resignation of Dr. Shaps is not saying that he is a horrible person," Epstein said. "Calling for the resignation of Dr. Shaps is a call for him to recognize that he may not have the tools to support all students, and that somebody else could do a better job.”
While his critics spoke, Shaps mostly took notes, any facial reactions obscured by a mask.
"I respect and honor the voices of students and parents who earlier today shared painful and personal stories about racism and explicit bias in our schools,” he said later in an email. “I feel compassion for the hurt and distress described in great detail.
“The students, alumni and parents present asked to be heard and demanded action. It is the responsibility of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools to continue to engage, listen and take deliberate action to address issues of racism in our schools and community."
Morales told The Journal News/lohud that she had invited Shaps and members of the board to attend the community forum, but none did, something that was brought up by multiple people who spoke Tuesday.
“I would love for you to have shown up ... to at least walk over there and acknowledge the fact that I was there (for) one week straight,” Morales said at the microphone. “I was terrified every single night that somebody would come to the campsite and do something, and you guys couldn't be bothered by showing up.”
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Morales said that while she was camping, she received hateful messages to her personal social media, was shouted insults from passersby, and that someone driving past on Boston Post Road spit on her.
At one point in the meeting, there was a back and forth between Morales and Beder about the fact that a meeting had not been arranged between protesters and the board.
Morales said the board had only offered to meet during the work week, when most community members could not attend. Beder replied that they could schedule a meeting in the evening.
A parent in the audience, Diana Lovett, called out “We scheduled one on Friday!”
Protesters continued to speak out after the public comment period was over, forcing Beder to fall silent at several points.
Beder insisted that the board was committed to listening and that anti-racism work was being done.
“Our goals are the same, to work with open hearts and minds to combat racism and bias in our schools and in our community,” Beder said. “We have not done a good job of sharing with the broader community the work that has been done, or sharing our commitment to build upon this work.”
She said that work is supported by Shaps and is best continued under his leadership.
Shaps gave a brief statement at the meeting, after several people called on him to say something.
“You asked me to comment,” he said. “I'm saying to you, to our community, that this school system, the administrators, teachers, Board of Education, are committed to moving forward, hearing the voices, taking the actions that are clear and decisive and dealing with the issue.”
Someone in the audience said “Are you going to step down?”
Sophie Grosserode covers education. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter @sdgrosserode. Check out our latest subscription offers here.
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