On New Years Day at Newton City Hall, the newly elected and re-elected City officials, including the Mayor, City Councilors, and School Committee Members, were officially sworn in to their respective positions. All twenty-four City Councilors were present.
Yet something peculiar happened with the School Committee. And it’s a given that nearly everyone at the ceremony noticed.
Of the eight School Committee Members, three were absent. Alicia Piedalue was elected Chair of the School Committee by the five Members present. And she wasn’t even there. No explanation, no reason was given for her absence. Same with the other two who were absent.
One Committee Member absent (with an explanation) is tolerable. Things happen. Elected officials or their dependents get sick too. But three no shows is not acceptable. It’s insulting.
There’s no excuse for such behavior. And the Committee never offered one anyway.
Yet the glaring fact remains that three School Committee Members, including the Chair, entrusted with overseeing our schools, didn’t show up to their own official swearing-in ceremony.
Think of that.
Tom Mountain
Oak Hill
