Amilcar Shabazz, formerly Amherst School Committee & former Chair Equity Task Force
The chorus of outrage over the treatment of Aisha Hiza, a black single mom standing up for her bullied daughter only to be hit with an all-school property stay away order over ten weeks ago, are now reaching a deafening peak.
On his Facebook page Amilcar Shabazz, UMass Faculty Advisor for Diversity & Excellence, issued a stern statement to Amherst and Pelham officials that will be hard to ignore.
More like impossible.
Click to enlarge/read
All of this is so sad, rather than care and understanding this has escalated so everyone will lose. I suspect everyone involved is a little right, and a lot wrong.
ReplyDeleteMs hiza just needs to sign her waiver and we will all know the truth. Drink more kool-aid larry!
ReplyDeleteThat is assuming two things.. That what is written is factual and that all the records are in the file. Ms Hiza will not need to sign a waiver because she will get the records without signing a waiver. It is not legal for her to be required to sign blanket release. We already know the truth by the inconsistencies in Maria's statement to the newspaper. Stay away order was placed March 15. She did not meet with police chiefs until the end of March. They had provided no guidance in the initial order. Lie #1 . Pelham police provided to input told SI it was school issue Lie Number 2. Aisha was never considered dangerous by superintendent because she was allowing Aisha on school grounds sporadically. I do have enough faith in SI that I do believe if she really thought Aisha was dangerous this never would have happened. She insinuated that the police knew something about Aisha that no one else knew. That also not true.
DeletePeople are vicious. We are living in vicious times. Constructive criticism: No possessive on Hizas. Robert's Rules of Order are court politics. Some of the folks sitting around the table at the Regional School District meetings are supporting their own interests: state rep office, family member employed by school district, etc. Some are diligently trying to do what's best by their constituents. At the heart of the matter is: a mother and legal guardian of a child was prevented from full access to her child. This is wrong. No matter what threats or what "the full story" is...if that parent was so dangerous, just mandate that she is accompanied at all times when on the premises. You can't separate a legal guardian from a child and you can't trot out vagaries of iterations of an accelerated threat level to justify this. Whatever the 'whole story' is, I humbly wager the threats were based in emotion and a bit more empathy would have gone a long way.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:45...I only understand a small portion of what you are saying...."vagaries of iteration of an accelerated threat level" sure does sound meaningful! I am just plain folk.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:54....just plain not true. But it's a free country to assert whatever you want just like Mr trump!
ReplyDeleteFree to lie to the families of the Benghazi dead just like Mrs. Clinton.
DeleteWell, hay thar 11:15, I'm glad your just plain folk. That's a folksy thing to say.
ReplyDeleteOnce race is brought up as the issue, the argument, and all logic is lost. Amherst is a very fucked up town. Rather than waste money on schools, they ought to offer free psychologists to the fucked up population that focuses on names, colors and division in everything it does.
ReplyDeleteCan a superintendent separate a parent from a child on school property legally?
ReplyDeleteWhile the letter is well written, and perhaps logical; let's be realistic, public officials and police are rarely, if ever accountable for their actions.
ReplyDelete....and no one cares
I know I don't care, bring on the lawsuit. Then I'll know what this will all cost us. Can we pay with sprinkler money???
DeleteIt may be cheaper to buyout Marias contract then it will be to pay Aisha
DeleteA Stay Away Order sent on March 15th via email that repeatedly states "until further notice" without any access and opportunity to any obtain further notice.
ReplyDeleteAn underhanded tactic to force a school choice family to leave the district!
Amherst/Pelham is known to punish parents that try to get help for a bullied child.
Meanwhile- The unaddressed/unresolved bullying continues in the classroom.
Two and a half months later, Aisha is still awaiting "further notice" as Maria apparently continues to wait and hope that the issue resolves (moves) on its own.
Can a superintendent separate a parent from a child on school property legally?
ReplyDeleteYes they legally can.
“The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Tauro, J.) recently upheld the constitutionality of M.G.L. c. 266, § 120, which allows public officials to issue a “No Trespass” order without court approval or review”
This is not about “can” it is about “should”.
http://bit.ly/1ssFDhp
This article has some interesting info in it: http://bit.ly/1UBtZtC (Worcester, 2015) - also regarding bullying. Sounds very similar except parent is a white male.
Mr. Pezzella said the Worcester school district issues on average about 20 no-trespass orders a year to block people from going to school property.
Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said that is not an uncommon step for a school district of Worcester’s size. Boston Public Schools spokesman Denise Snyder confirmed no-trespass orders are an aspect of dealing primarily with parents in her district, as well.
“When you put a no-trespass order on a parent, that’s significant, and I don’t think principals do that with any kind of glee at all,” Mr. Koocher added. “They don’t do it to make their lives easier because it doesn’t make their lives easier.”
My opinion on this remains that none of us have anywhere near the facts needed to know what is “right” here and we seem to be restricted from getting them. For all we know, there is disagreement between the parties on what the facts are. Obviously, the public wants to know. It would be nice if there was some kind of third party who could sit with both sides and come back to the public with some kind of statement, even if it is just “they disagree on the facts”.
Just hoping the parties can resolve this soon. The only way that’s going to happen, outside of some long court process, is for all sides to put away their egos, get their head out of past differences and into the present. Not sure why signing a simple memorandum of understanding on how to move forward cannot fix this thing. Or maybe that already happened and was violated? Again, so much we do not know.
Rick after speaking with Ted Hobson attorney gor Marcel Cyr your right in your quotes above. Maria can absolutely issue stay away order. However, she was ill advised when she and Ms Tate blocked Aisha's access to the school committee. In the Cyr case Marcel was allowed to communicate by phine and Rutland still lost due to a Federal Law statute that says you can't block a concerned parent Access to her elected representatives. Fed law supercedes state law. Also the inconsistencies in Maria's statements and actions will play a big part in the lawsuit which unfortunately for Pelham is inevitable at this point unless Maria resigns. (-which is what Aisha wants not money) Do have the drop out rates based on racial statistics for the district?
DeleteResign, Geryk, resign.
ReplyDeleteAll Maria Geryk has to do is sign a letter of resignation.
Maria Geryk does not have the school committee and surrounding community she wants, She has the committee and community she deserves. You reap what you sow. Not to worry, wait long enough it will all blow over, It always does.
ReplyDeleteAFTEr LOOKING THROUGH the reports on all the issues over the years I would love to say this will be the final straw but she always makes it through all the negativity and bad decisions and still has a job.. PribBlky because she drinks wine with most of the school committee
DeleteI hate to say it but when I first broke this story, I thought so as well.
ReplyDeleteNot any more.
In support of Ms. Hiza, former teacher Gardner, former school committee chair Shabazz, current school chair Baptiste, current school committee member Douangmany-Cage, my friends of color and all the good and decent people/school officials involved in this self-destructive controversy, I urge you to please consider Justice Brandeis’s forewarning in U.S. v. Olmstead, 277 U.S. 438 (1928) BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!
ReplyDelete“Decency, security and liberty alike demand that government officials shall be subject to the rules of conduct that are commands to the citizen. In a government of laws, existence of government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our government is the potent, omnipresent teacher. For good or ill, it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for the law. It invites every man to become a law unto himself. It invites anarchy."
This is a power play aimed at cementing black control of the Amherst school board.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Obama's America, liberals!
That is so far from reality in numbers that it is a joke
Delete10:54: As reported by the MA DOE, the 2015 drop out rates for ARHS are as follows:
ReplyDeleteAll Students 3.7%
Male 4%
Female 3.2%
ELL 12%
Students w/disabilities 7.5%
Black 7.4%
Hispanic/Latino 8.5%
Mult-race, Non-Hisp./Lat. 8.7%
White 1.3%
Low income 7.3%
When will all teachers and administrators have to wear body cameras and all rooms have surveillance cameras and even all bathrooms have cameras and, and, and...so every side will know everything about everything and all reality will be known.
ReplyDeleteI say again: The Salem Witch Trials ended when they accused the Governor's Wife of being a witch. Caligula made a mistake when she falsely accused the wrong parent of being "crazy & dangerous", a second mistake when she thought she was dealing with a SchoolChoice parent from Chicopee and not someone with deep roots in both the community and at UMass.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't think that only Pelham will be liable, all four towns employing her would be considered "persons" in a 1983 lawsuit and liable -- withOUT the protections of the state tort claims act.
And as to the fears of an "All-Black School Committee", there is absolutely no way it could be any worse than the cadre of Rich White Leftists that have been running things to date.
While I'd prefer to consider people on the content of their character than the color of their skin, I don't think this would be a bad thing.
By the way, the stay away ban was lifted last week although the mom, Vira and Shabazz don't want anyone to know. Larry, why don't you check that out.
ReplyDeleteIf the order has been lifted why hasn't Maria Geryk issued a statement? She was quick to issue a statement about Ms.Hiza before so why not now if she has been so nice to lift the stay away order. What game is Maria Geryk playing?
DeleteI don't know at what point DESE would yank a Supt's Certificate, or if they ever have -- I do know they've yanked teacher's certificates, in one case for a B&E incidental to a nasty divorce.
ReplyDeleteCaligulia's contract mandates her maintaining a valid Supt Cert -- were DESE to yank it, it would be like an attorney who's disbarred, she wouldn't be entitled to remain as Supt and hence wouldn't be entitled to severance pay.
Just Saying...
DESE WILL NOT GET INVOLVED IN STAY AWAY ORDERS .. Its posted on the website.. They call it a local issue. Basically superintendent is the best job in the world to have no one can hold you accountable for anything you do
DeleteJust saying ed....the ban is within the legal powers of the SI....
ReplyDelete"By the way, the stay away ban was lifted last week "
ReplyDelete"Last week" ending on Friday when Caligula sent out that 2 pager justifying the ban remaining in place?
This doesn't add up....
"the ban is within the legal powers of the SI...."
ReplyDeleteMuch as the lawful use of force, including deadly force, is within the legal powers of a police officer.
The problem arises when either uses this lawful power in an illegal manner.
THAT'S when you can loose your certificate or badge.
That's when the "under color of law" comes in.
I was stunned beyond words when I learned Amherst or Hampshire College could handle rape incidents internally without having to give APD or the DA a heads up.
ReplyDeleteSimply astonishing.
I agree larry..i can't believe rape isn't always a police issue.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteKurt Geryk updated his cover photo.
February 28 ·
Kurt Geryk's photo.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205958634834140&set=a.2567227749155.2120995.1508020708&type=3
(white cop with baton out-hand on gun-pointing baton at a young black youth standing with his hands held high)
The ban is legal but banning a parent who is not dangerous and implying she has some sorted dangerous past by using the police falsely to back up her statement is not ok. The ban is legal.. However gagging Ms Hiza from communicating with the School committee is not. We will lose this case in a court of law. Federal laws override state laws. Also using 7 year olds to find incriminating evidence is not ok. This is focussed on Miss Hiza but I am saying Ms Hiza may be a pawn(an expensive one ) in Maria's real end game is actually discrediting Trevor Baptiste I think as the records come forth and this whole situation gets looked at by lawyers and court officials it will eventually be proven. it also looks terrible That Maria is discrediting clack families from Pelham and has yet to dish our any consequences to the white mom who threatened a 7 year old on PES grounds 2 weeks ago. WHETHER MARIA'S ACTIONS ARE RACIAL MOTIVATED OR NOT.. NOT BANNING THE PARENT WHO THREATENED A CHILD ON SCHOOL GROUNDS will be the icing on the cake to prove Aisha was treated differently because she is black .
ReplyDeleteAnon 1054 It is in the Maria's statement that the ban was in place March 15th and that she met with the police at the end of March. Gary T has made a public statement to masslive, that he did no paperwork on the issue and told Maria it was a school issue.. thus implying it wasn't a police issue. So what part of this is not true ?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:37 it's up to the Ms Hiza to announce the stay away order has been lifted. And, I wouldn't say Maria Geryk was "quick" to issue a statement. She seemed to issue a statement only recently in order to be clear that the things being said about the district and administrators were not true.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine if the superintendent announced the stay away order was lifted. Ms Hiza would be all over her about violating her privacy.
Rkaa45...your are anon...so please share with us the name of the parent who threatened the child. Or did you hear it from a friend of a friend of a friend? And it was not a police issue unless geryk want to make it one. The Kurt geryk photo looks like a hack to me. Even he isn't that stupid!
ReplyDeleteIt's him, and yes, he is.
DeleteSince all statements she had made were about obviously about the situation one more dashing the district currently has no bans really wouldn't make a difference
ReplyDeleteIm a parent in that class and it was confirmed to me by the parent who did it and the school as I was extremly concerned how this could have happened considering the issues we are facing. I will not say who this mom is for the same reason I wouldn't share the name of the primary bullier of the class
ReplyDeleteYou people are all sick.
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:54 I am the mother of the parent who knows a mother in the school that can confirm that chalk is indeed used in the school!, But of course I can't say who told me or who I am. I am not just saying that!
ReplyDeleteWrong, they use dry erase!
DeleteVery different situation. I will not put some one in harms way to prove a point. It's not fair to the parent or the children
ReplyDelete"I was stunned beyond words when I learned Amherst or Hampshire College could handle rape incidents internally without having to give APD or the DA a heads up."
ReplyDeleteLarry, I think you will find that the same is true of rape crisis centers, and (except if the victim is a UM student) true at CDH as well. Prior to Enku, the same was true at UMass, if a victim went to UHS, they'd strongly encourage her to speak with UMPD, but if she said "no", they'd respect that. This led to an overreporting of rapes on campus because the UHS, EWC & UMPD numbers were added without any agency sharing names with the others.
(As opposed to now -- they get lynched at ACT, but I digress...)
My attitude is that someone whose trust has been violated desperately needs trust (and empowerment) more than anything else and that is why I would never breach a confidence like this to the PD/DA.
Now as to what Biddy Martin is being sued for, that's something quite different....
Caligukia could always say that Aishia hiza is wekcome at the school, haven't seen that.
ReplyDeleteKurt Geyrk's photo is inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteThere is no need for Hiza to prove intent, only that she was treated differently.
Ed, Kurt can put whatever he wants on his facebook page. Besides, it looks more like an anti cop post and nothing to do with the schools.
DeleteFree speech.
Buying out Maria's contract doesn't mean that Aisha doesn't also get paid.
ReplyDeleteAnd as to DESE, well, that's the mASSgop for you.
Another reason why Aisha needs to sue, as DESE is supposed to deal with educator misconduct.
Of course, I gotta wonder what DESE would do if Town Meeting said "OK, then" and reset the annual town allocation to $1, essentially deciding to shut down the schools as a "local response" to the "local matter."
Ed Aisha Doeant want money she wants her alma Mater fixed and parents supported and listened too there is a long list. Since this started there are so many parents regarding bullying and same issues as Aisha that have been teaching out to her and sharing their stories. For Aisha this isn't just about her and hasn't been for a while now.
ReplyDeleteRebecca C
Larry,
ReplyDeleteI must respectfully disagree with a comment made yesterday. You thought this issue is not blowing over or will not just go away. This one may have more legs and be getting more press than some others but I still think it will just blow over. It always does. A marginal majority still support Maria, they forgive any transgression and easily blame the accuser. Its been this way for years. Maria will only leave that job when she wants to, no sooner. You would have to have hard documented evidence of corruption, criminal activity or fraud that DESE or the attorney general was willing to act on, to change that belief for me.
Maria is our hillary ....people will attach any kind of imagined crime they can think of to her...where was Maria on 9/11 ? JFK assassination? The "suicide" of Vince foster?
ReplyDeleteDoes maria refuse to disavow perjuring eapist husband Bill Clinton? Did maria lie to the families of the Benghazi dead? Do you really believe Shrillary can do no wrong? Or maria?
DeleteOn the other hand, the superintendent needs to be accountable for her actions and be judged by them.
ReplyDeleteI can't judge her till I know what happened! With all the privacy these days the public can't know anything. A public worker is dismissed and we can't know why but we can know all the inner workings of the cia.
ReplyDelete"You would have to have hard documented evidence of corruption, criminal activity or fraud that DESE or the attorney general was willing to act on, to change that belief for me."
ReplyDeleteIf Caligula (a) is as ignorant of the ED-OCR "Dear Colleague" guidance letters on bulling as she appears to be, (b) is as arrogant as she appears to be, and (c) there are as many diverse victims of bullying as there appear to be, I can see the US Attorney stepping in, particularly as there are a multitude of civil rights aspects to all of this. DESE may consider this a "local matter" but I doubt they would fall on their swords for that.
Rebecca, what I'm afraid of is Caligula taking a buyout and nothing changing as her minions remain.
Ed Aisha would like to see those five go as well.
DeleteEd ed ed ed...the continuing dream that you may know something....us attorney...get out of your house ed and meet some real people!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's more than five that Ed would like to see go -- it's a couple dozen more at UMass that were behind all of this. Behind Caligula, behind the abuse of the mental health laws, and generally being arrogant schmucks whom no one has ever questioned.
ReplyDeleteNever forget that the worst thing UMass ever did to Amherst was to destroy Amherst's K-12 schools...
Larry, why no followup on the UM ED Dean & two Asst Deans suddenly leaving?
Nor ob the destroyed portables?
Ed you have revealed too much when you decry the abuse of mental health laws...what happened to you?
ReplyDelete"Ed you have revealed too much when you decry the abuse of mental health laws...what happened to you?"
ReplyDeleteI eventually remembered that "I was just following orders" didn't work at Nuremberg, and that the most unpleasant portion of Dante's _Inferno_ was reserved for those who had lacked the courage to do either right or wrong Furthermore, I actually believe in some of this social justice stuff, at least the portion that doesn't contradict Natural Law.
In other words, I had a crisis of conscience, I knew how badly the Soviets had abused this stuff and I could no longer be a party to stuff equally reprehensible.
Well ed ..u cleared that up...thanks!
ReplyDeleteMaria is responsible because her policy is damaging this school district. Restorative justice is affirming the bullies. The systematic dumbing down school curriculum is also driving families out of the district for quality educations.
ReplyDeleteNot knowing the full details, Geryk and company unfortunately don't get the benefit of the doubt based on their track record. They are a calculating bunch. Ultimately they face no real consequences for actions like these. But let's not make this a matter of "racism" or "social justice." This administration is crappy to parents of all colors and stripes who dare advocate for their children.
ReplyDeleteAisha likes this comment
Deleteanon@12:57 gets it right. Not to mention, doing all that with tremendous monetary resources. I'd just add that restorative justice doesn't just affirm the bullies, it creates more bullying behavior because kids see that nasty behavior going unchallenged and think it is normal and acceptable. Kids NEED rules of behavior and guidance.
ReplyDeleteWell said anon 2:08: "This administration is crappy to parents of all colors and stripes who dare advocate for their children!"
ReplyDeleteI agree -- I've always said that while I doubt this is about race, defining it as such will put Caligula into the impossible position of proving that it isn't without proving what it actually is.
ReplyDelete"It is an infirmity of our nature to mingle our interests and prejudices with the operation of our reasoning powers, and attribute to the objects of our likes and dislikes qualities they do not possess and effects they cannot produce" -Andrew Jackson
ReplyDeleteThat an entity like this~one that is in charge of 'educating' our children--can cause so much havoc, and grief, and stress, and pain to the families it serves is very difficult to understand. And every time the abuse is brought to light--those who can and are obligated to stop it, choose the same freakin' rock to crawl under and mumble--this is not my problem. Not my problem--not legally my problem--not morally my problem--Such professional passing of the buck is a sight to be seen. It is an outright disgust that our town officials continue to allow this superintendent to dictate. It is like they're running around saying how beautiful this queen's clothes are--and well--we all know that story. :(
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:10...how many families are ya figger'n are feeling the havoc, grief, stress and pain of this here entity of education? Just a ballpark figure...80...90 percent by the sound of your post?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1030 .. 1% is 1% too many ... not one family should feel like They unvalued... and every child should feel like they are the most important
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSooooooooooooo.
Still looking forward to Ms. Hiza signing that school release so we can actually hear both sides of this story.
And using "Her lawyer advised her not to" as an excuse is totally inadequate.
Sign the release Ms. Hiza, if this is such an egregious situation, surely, it will be good to have all the facts out there to show that.
Sign the release Ms. Hiza!
Until then, this is all just gossip.
We know after the records we saw yesterday that they not complete completely inadequate... And im also sure they are full of not lies persay let's use the word exaggerated adjectives.. If Maria would release the records to Aisha without the blanket release and give Aishas legal team a chance to review them then they may get released but Maria bullying Aisha into blanket release is unacceptable.. Also makes me think Maria is hoping Aisha doesn't release the records because there are things in there if accurate will also shine negative light on her team
Delete"Still looking forward to Ms. Hiza signing that school release so we can actually hear both sides of this story."
ReplyDeleteWe will NEVER hear the facts were she to do that -- all it would do would be to license Ms Geryk to fabricate lies wholesale with impunity. We want the schools to tell the truth, not given permission to lie even more than they already do.
What do you mean "we" Ed? You don't live here. You are just a voyeur.
ReplyDeleteEd how are the schools in Maine?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:58...what records did we see yesterday?
ReplyDeleteIncomplete ones
DeleteIncomplete ones.
ReplyDeleteAlso added to the lies.. APD had, denied, being knives in the decision making process. They days they deferred to Pelham.. Whi has stated publically they told SI itx was a school issue.. So SI had released another lie to the
ReplyDeletepapers.. Implying the police felt the stay away order was necessary baded on information only known to them was BS.
Ms Hiza entered into talks that allowed the ban to be lifted. What changed for her that she finally agreed to sit down and talk? People that believe there is only one side to this story ( Ms Hiza's side) are either incredibly naive or just not wanting to see the truth for their own personal agendas. Interesting that Shabazz is getting involved now that his term as diversity Czar is coming to an end. Trying to make himself relevant again? We know that Afro Am doesn't want him back. By the way, where is the ACLU if this is such a gross example of discrimination. They don't want this case because it's not based on discrimination.
ReplyDeleteTranslation please?
ReplyDeleteUrgh.. SRY Apd denied being involved with the decision making process they stated they deferred to Pelham. Pelham stated in Masslive article they told Maria it was a school issue.. And did no paperwork. SO THE SI Lied, to papers ?? Saying police recommended order based on something they only kneW ..looks very fishy and manipulative
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:05....Obviously an ARHS graduate...
ReplyDeleteNo, 4:27, a Millennial. They ALL write that way, if you see enough of it, you can kinda translate it into English.
ReplyDeleteBottom line: Hiza shouldn't have to sign an unrestricted blanket waiver of confidentially to privately review Geryk's alleged facts -- this is like saying you can only have a copy of your medical records if they are published on the front page of the New York Times.
If Geryk thinks such a blanket waiver appropriate, would she like to have her weight announced at the start of every SC meeting? Or is that information she, but not everyone else, should have access to?
Maria's statement still makes no sense to me...
ReplyDeleteHiza went to school administrators last fall with concerns about bullying that she said had persisted since her daughter was in kindergarten. The bullying included derogatory comments about her hair as well as pushing and kicking by one aggressor, Hiza told The Republican.
Geryk said administrators met multiple times with Hiza and that all "participated in collaborative problem solving" to develop action plans to respond to concerns. For nearly five months "this process appeared to be effective," Geryk said.
But then, she wrote, Hiza stopped participating "and unilaterally abandoned the action and communication plans that had been previously agreed upon."
How was this plan supposed to address the bullying situation (which continues to today)?
I'd love to know more about the bully (and their family) Why is Central afraid to address the real issue?
Ed's worst post ever....calling Maria a fatty....and makes no sense either!
ReplyDeleteAnon5:27 how do you know the bullying continues to today? Friend of a friend? Aisha just tell your daughter everyone is different. Ever try being a redhead?
ReplyDelete"Ed's worst post ever....calling Maria a fatty."
ReplyDeleteI did NO SUCH THING!
I merely pointed out that some things ought to be private.
I don't think ANY woman would particularly appreciate having her weight publicly announced -- any ladies care to differ on that???