[Editor’s Note: The first article in this series is here, which covers the night of the Board of Education’s decision on 9/29/2020 to not appoint 2 of the 2 open seats that had been vacated. The Board voted to appoint 1 of the 2 seats that evening, and voted for Jasmine Johnson, and against John Galloway Jr. Read that article in full here. The second seat will have a new application period, while the same candidates can roll over their applications.]
After Jasmine Johnson was appointed to the Board of Education, there was a lot to follow up with, as this is the beginning of the chapter for the Board of Education. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Jasmine for comment, and hasn’t heard back yet, but will amend this article when and if we do. Do listen to her speak to her passions here in her candidacy Q+A with the Board.
Reaction From Justice McCray of Beacon4Black Lives
Justice McCray was one of the first people to speak in support of nominating 2 people that night. In fact, he said he wanted 6 Black people at the table. For this article, Justice was asked:
ALBB: For an article announcing the appointment of Jasmine Johnson to the Board of Education, can you tell me your opinion? Also, did you say something about diversity groups, and training? Is there something to be said for working with a Black person, or person of Color, vs talking about that concept in a diversity training session?
Justice: “I know it was difficult to hear me via Zoom, but I questioned the Board's commitment to action over their commitment to committing to work on diversity. I pointed out that the inequities within our school system are a crisis, and if they can come up for solutions for the COVID crisis within 3 months, why aren't they putting the same level of attention and urgency toward the racial crisis within our schools.
“I'm glad the Board appointed Jasmine. I have a lot of hope in her potential. One thing that I noticed was that Antony Tseng said that they wanted to put someone in "with the Board's best interests." Perhaps I'm reading into semantics, but it definitely makes me question the reasons behind their vote. I recognize John questioned the Board and has come off as angry. I also wonder if Ali's outburst negatively influenced their vote. The Black community came out for John Galloway. He clearly was the community choice. I hope he runs again, but I look forward to the positive changes Jasmine will hopefully bring.”
Reaction from Ali T. Muhammad Of Next Step Hudson Valley
After reviewing the entire Board of Education meeting on minute-by-minute replay, we asked Ali the following question:
ALBB: Before you got up to speak before the appointment decision, and before they broke for Recess, the Board was talking a lot about “process.” This talk of “process” seemed to make the room and viewers nervous. People in Zoom were commenting that the community was there to ask the Board to vote for John and Jasmine. And then you got up to interject. When you were hearing the board talk about “process,” what about what they were saying compelled you to get up to interject?
Ali: I interjected because this talk about “process” felt like they were going to decide to appoint one person, instead of two (earlier in the night, they officially made James Case-Leal’s seat available to be filled) that they wanted to make, regardless of the testimony from the public, the emails, calls, and engagement from the BIPOC community. They have the authority to recreate the “process” that they decided to go with. They could have moved to waive the application process because there is a qualified and viable person of Color sitting in the auditorium (John Galloway Jr.), ready to serve his hometown. This would have been a much-needed break from the status quo, systematic racism (because these processes keep BIPOC people out of policy-making decisions), opportunity to say, not only do we hear you, we will act on what you are demanding.
“Last night I interjected because we’re not asking for permission or forgiveness. We’re taking up space and getting people of Color on boards that impact our daily lives. Jasmine Johnson was the first, and we’re excited for her! It would have been the right thing to start Jasmine and John together, two out of four candidates that applied for the voluntary positions in the first place. The five Board members that voted against John Galloway Jr. will vote against the people of Color last night. We will remember this and will continue to be the disturbance in their complacency. The five board members that voted against Beacon’s people of Color are complicit in the systematic racism many of us are actively fighting against.”
Reaction From Barb Fisher, Candidate For the Beacon Board Of Education
After Ali interjected, which prompted the Board president Meredith Heurer to call a Recess, Barb interjected by asking Ali how his statements were helping Jasmine. You can read her quotes in the previous article. Here is Barb’s question and response:
ALBB: We are writing an article on the BOE meeting where John Galloway was majority opposed and Jasmine Johnson was voted in. Were you sitting next to Jasmine Johnson that night? Were you in attendance as a candidate who was hoping to get nominated that night? Are you going to continue running for the second appointment? You mentioned you may withdraw to clear the path for Jasmine, who later got voted in. Had you been considering that before the vote? If so, did you have an opportunity to say that prior to the nomination process? Are you still of that mindset?
Barb: “I’m disappointed this seems to have become about John losing instead of Jasmine winning and also about a hollow congratulations to Beacon having its first woman majority board. (I think that’s true but I have not fact checked).
”I’m not at all disappointed that I wasn’t appointed. I applied because typically people don’t in these cases, and I wanted to make sure there was going to be quorum in case of COVID and a budget vote over the winter. I didn’t know when I completed my application that anyone else, other than Travis (Fisher, Barb’s husband), had applied. Didn’t think that was public?
”One thing that I did hear at that board meeting was that an additional applicant had inquired about applying the day after the process had closed. I’m proud of the Board for making the hard decision and standing by their appointment process. This will allow this other person to also apply for James’ seat if they still want to.
“I remember a few years back when a Board member was voted out, followed by a resignation in an attempt to reappoint the person who was voted out. There was outrage then for no process. Why the outrage now? Also, I’m definitely not in favor of starting a precedent of appointing replacements in resignation letters, regardless of good intentions.
”Maybe I’m naive, but everything I’ve read about overcoming inherent biases involves very strict rubrics in decision making processes. There are PhD’s all over that suggest nothing else works. Given the nefarious history of the school board, I think this particular appointment process can be a beneficial rubric moving forward for our school board, it can help ensure that this push for diversity isn’t a fad.”
Additional Response From Barb Fisher Regarding Her Continued Candidacy
On the Saturday after the Board appointment meeting, Barb submitted her letter of withdraw, which she shared with ALBB. It reads:
Dear Meredith, and the Board,
Thank you for considering my application for the vacant position on the school board. It is my opinion that the board chose the best candidate for the position.
With regards to the new vacancy, I believe there are other people who are well qualified and willing to serve. So, I respectfully request that my application be removed from consideration.
I hope the Board continues to focus on diversity and a safe learning environment for Beacon’s kids.
Sincerely,
Barbara Fisher
Response From Travis Fisher, Former Candidate For The Beacon Board Of Education, Regarding His Continued Candidacy
Travis Fisher attended the meeting via Zoom, but was impaired from speaking because his microphone was bad. Here is Travis’ question. He responded by emailing over his letter of withdraw, which has been published below:
ALBB: For an article at A Little Beacon Blog, we tried hearing you on your microphone but could not. Can you tell us the nature of what you we’re trying to say? Are you going to continue to run for the other opening?
Travis: “Below is the email I sent to the Board of Education.”
Meredith, Board Members:
I want to congratulate you on the selection of Jasmine Johnson. I think you made a good choice and she will do a good job on the board.
In applying for the board vacancy, my primary concern was that you would have good candidates to fill the spot. Barb and I had talked and we wanted to make sure you had a choice of candidates with different strengths. I strongly considered pulling my name out after the meeting where candidates interviewed, as it was clear at that point that you did have other good candidates. The comment that I was trying to make at the Board meeting was to encourage you to make a selection that would help increase the diversity of the Board.
In regards to the second opening, the situation is not much changed. It seems clear you will have at least one energetic candidate who brings diversity and much-needed community connections. If I would stay in the running it would be mostly to make sure again you have a choice of candidates with different strengths. But at this point I think it is clear that the strengths I offer are not what the Board most needs in the current moment. Therefore I wish to withdraw from consideration for the second board opening.
Best regards,
--Travis Fisher
Responses From The Board Members Who Voted To Oppose John Galloway Jr.
In researching for this article, people who don’t follow the BOE closely or at all asked me why John Galloway Jr. was not voted in. They asked the question simply because they kept hearing his name so often. Because of his founding of the organization, The Label Foundation, John is in even more places in the community. Because of his young age, younger people know of him, so he is a friend for many.
But when people don’t get jobs, or when people get demoted from jobs, like the instance in Beacon’s Highway Department when Reuben Simmons was demoted legally within a process, people assume there is a justified reason, and they want to know why. So when I was asked this question by community members not involved in following the BOE, I emailed over to the Board members who stated “Opposed” as their vote, to ask why they voted that way.
Only 2 of the 5 Board members responded to my question, Kristan Flynn and Elissa Betterbid.
ALBB: A Little Beacon Blog is writing about the BOE meeting and first appointee vote that happened on Tuesday. For the article, can you tell me why you voted to oppose John Galloway Jr.?
Elissa: “Given that we had four candidates wouldn't it be more accurate, appropriate, and responsible to ask why I voted for Jasmine Johnson? I voted to oppose three candidates, not just John Galloway.”
There were 2 roll calls for votes. Elissa voted once in each nomination for John and Jasmine.
Kristan’s response to my question of why she voted to Oppose John Galloway Jr. included 9 paragraphs. The question was pretty simple, and was not answered. Instead, Kristan dedicated her answer to expressing her disappointment that people come out and pay attention to votes for Board members, and not about other everyday BOE issues and accomplishments, like if the Audit Committee is meeting monthly or yearly (it switched to monthly, which she is quite excited about).
The closest her answer came to answering the question was this: “Just because many people who were interested in this one appointment know what is going on, I can promise you there are many that do not. In order to provide the same level of confidence in each appointment, which is an inferior process to an election -- and will always come with the appearance of bias since it is 8 people rather than the whole community, there needs to be a common understanding and guidelines we follow to move forward in a way that is intentional and feels fair. Frankly, we try to recruit candidates and there has not been much interest. If an appointment offers a different access point and reduces barriers to participation for communities that have felt they are outside the system then I think it can be a good thing.”
After the publishing of this article, Meredith did respond to this specific questions by saying: “When you say that I did not respond for comment, could you mention that I did respond to the 9 other emails you sent me on the subject?”
Meredith was initially very responsive to questions on how the process works.
Based on a Comment from someone named Caroline below, Kristan’s response is published in full below.
Meredith’s Response To What She Meant By Her Welcoming Statement
Meredith’s first spoken comment of welcome to Jasmine generated immediate unease with some people in the audience that evening. Here is the question posed to Meredith, and her response:
ALBB: What did you mean when you said “Be careful what you wish for” after the vote? Was that directed to Jasmine?
Meredith: “My comment to Jasmine was just meant to mean, from one human to another, this will be hard. I really, really look forward to working with Jasmine. My communication with her so far has been great. I think she is up for the work ahead and I am incredibly appreciative of that.”
Future Coverage Of The Board Of Education At ALBB
Local reporting takes a lot of time, and has become even more valued during the pandemic and racial revolution. Here at A Little Beacon Blog, we can barely get articles out about how Beacon achieved opening Hybrid (optional 2 days in school, 3 days at home Remote Learning), and we are huge supporters of it and amazed at the teachers and staff who are pulling this off. Not to mention the high childcare costs associated with this model, and the higher costs if the model goes to 100% remote (which is understandable if it does…we’re in a pandemic here).
But the BOE has a responsibility also of putting out information. They do not have A Little Beacon Blog on any press release list, and from what we can tell, does not send out any press releases, despite having 2 journalists on the Board. Is this an effort to keep people in the dark so that they can do their work more easily? Probably not. People are busy, and even the City of Beacon barely sends out any press releases, but has been doing better this year. Dutchess County has been sending an abundance of press releases, actually, upping their game during COVID and the racial revolution.
So yes, it would be great if reporters and the public showed up for regular meetings. When lots of people turn out for a public meeting for something, the elected or appointed people sitting at the table usually applaud the public for coming, and then throw a zinger about now coming out for other important issues. Touché. Point taken.
Right now, this reporter is showing up to the City Council Meetings on Monday Nights. Jeff Simms at the Highlands Current is on staff (aka gets paid to show up…woohoo!!) to the BOE and City meetings. The amount of information in Jeff’s brain is incredible!
So instead of a zinger, guilt-dart game, providing information is most helpful. As is answering questions!
Those who state something during a public meeting and think that having it live in a video on a YouTube or Vimeo server somewhere is enough insurance for doing their part to get the word out should really take classes over at our sister company, Tin Shingle, which teaches how to really get the word out, instead of sitting back, waiting for the magic to happen.
Kristan Flynn’s Full Response to: “Why did you oppose John Galloway Jr.?”
Based on a person named Caroline who commented below, here is Kristan’s full response to a single question. Normally, reporters would not have the space to print this entire response. Kristan knows this, being a professional in the communications industry. However, she elected to respond in 9 paragraphs. Here they are in full, since this is a digital space. Keep in mind, this blog platform of Squarespace actually does cut us off from writing too much.
Hi Katie --
I am not sure what the ground rules are around this because we typically work through the board president for communications.
I think the parliamentary procedure puts a frame on this as being against one candidate, because you have to say "in favor" or "opposed". Which is unfortunate, because it then seems like you are against that person. I like John and have spoken to him a few times. In those conversations he was exactly what is being said about him in the letters of support and public statements for this candidacy.
We were faced with now two open seats, but we were in the middle of the process for appointing a seat that had been vacated in July. When we are taking action we need to give notice to the public so they can be aware and respond. We had posted the opening for 1 seat, we received applications and those who applied after the deadline were not included, which was one person. We then began working toward filling that seat.
Just because one person decided what should happen and made it public, doesn't mean it happens that way. The board functions on consensus. We can only do business when we open a public meeting. So this past Tuesday was the first time we had even discussed the recent vacancy together. All of these other actions and the public discussion had taken place in between meetings. Maybe it had been decided on Facebook, but we had not had the opportunity to get in the room together (for the first time since March) to have that discussion until then.
One thing we had decided a while back, when Dr. Landahl had arrived, was to give space for reflection in between talking about something and voting on it. So when he brings something important to us, he will often do so at least a month before we have to vote on it. This was informed by having decisions whether they were legal, personnel or policy decisions thrown at us shortly before we were expected to vote. It never feels good and often you just feel like you are reacting.
Just because many people who were interested in this one appointment know what is going on, I can promise you there are many that do not. In order to provide the same level of confidence in each appointment, which is an inferior process to an election -- and will always come with the appearance of bias since it is 8 people rather than the whole community, there needs to be a common understanding and guidelines we follow to move forward in a way that is intentional and feels fair. Frankly, we try to recruit candidates and there has not been much interest. If an appointment offers a different access point and reduces barriers to participation for communities that have felt they are outside the system then I think it can be a good thing.
I voted for Jasmine for the seat vacated in July for several reasons. Her application essay provided insight as to the work she wanted to focus on, which was related to the work of the Wellness Committee and childhood obesity. I had been on that committee for two years, when we wrote the policy to reflect the goals the Obama administration had set in terms of healthy lunches and food options. Since then those guidelines have been lifted and there is no mandate to continue that work. We are very fortunate to have Karen Pagano running our food services as she makes this a priority regardless and has truly been heroic during this challenging time by working to keep our most vulnerable students fed. The work of that committee is so important if she could bring a new perspective to the table to reach parts of the community that have not been represented it would be a great service.
Jasmine is also employed at a local Montessori school as a teacher's aide. When we talk about diversifying our faculty, which has been a goal we are working towards, this misses another part of the picture, all of the other people who work in the schools and adjacent positions. It made me wonder if she had ever thought about doing that job in the BCSD? And if not, then why? Rather than just focusing about the 10 or so faculty openings that need to be filled each year, why not widen the lens? We can be thinking more broadly to understand how to reach potential candidates from our community as a whole. This could be another important step towards making the buildings more reflective of the community.
Fortunately, we have another vacancy. While I hear the frustration directed at the process, we are talking about a much shorter timeline than the July appointment with applications already submitted rolling forward. A consensus based body whose primary focus is oversight and governance is not nimble -- even if we want it to be -- and many of us on the board have wanted it to move quickly at different times. It's just not designed that way.
What is disappointing about the focus on this particular issue is a piece of a whole, there were some equally important topics discussed on Monday. They are not the kinds of things that people show up for -- but the fact that the audit committee will be meeting monthly instead of once a year is pretty significant -- because the more we can improve our financial systems the more resilient we will be and the more resources we can dedicate to educating children. The superintendent's report about re-opening. There are school districts that have sent notices to parents the day before school started that they didn't have enough bus drivers -- Beacon is able to use some of our buses for delivering food to families who are not able to get to the distribution. I wish it attracted more attention but unfortunately there is no drama there -- just the work of creating strong community systems.
Respectfully,
Kristan Flynn
