Guest Commentary: "No parent should be made to feel unwelcome in their children's school because of politics"

Former School Board member Jocelyn O'Quinn has asked us to post the following:

Hello,

 

As some of you may know, last Wednesday ORCSD held a community forum at Moharimet with the new superintendent, Dr. James Morse, and assistant superintendent, Ms. Carolyn Eastman.

Unfortunately, our administration allowed FORE, a special interest group founded by David Taylor, John Collins, JoAnn Portalupi and others, to "co-sponsor" the event along with the PTO (much to the surprise of the PTO, which had received assurances that it alone was sponsoring the forum.)

Frankly, I am outraged that any special interest group would be allowed to sponsor a community event--and distribute literature to recruit new members--where parents were gathering to discuss our schools. But this is not just any special interest group: FORE is well-known for its tactics, which have included campaign activities on behalf of School Board candidates, and a series of false accusations directed against their political opponents, among others.

On a personal level, as a former School Board member I cannot help but feel dismayed that some of the people who worked hard to smear my reputation were allowed to sponsor the event and position themselves as a credible organization, all with the express endorsement of our District leadership. I walked through the doors that night to advocate for my two kids and found myself feeling bullied (again) by a group of people who for the most part do not have any children of their own in the school system, but with political axe to grind. How are we as parents, at an event supposedly set up to discuss issues facing our children, supposed to react when confronted with an organized, partisan group pushing its own agenda?

One thing ought to be clear: no parent should be made to feel unwelcome in their children's school because of politics. Whether you like FORE or not, please join me in letting our Superintendent and principals know that special interest groups should not be allowed to solicit during school events.  After all, these are everyone's schools, and partisanship should have no place in them. 

Dr. Morse can be reached via his assistant, at: wdifruscio@orcsd.org. 

Sincerely, 

Jocelyn O'Quinn

Mother of two Moharimet Students