For fifteen years, many of us have worked hard to build and maintain the strong relationship between the Town and School organizations in Reading. When we needed budget help to keep RCASA funded after a grant expired, Dr. Doherty did not hesitate to step up and give full school support. When the middle schools needed help to maintain their foreign language program, they received unanimous Town department head support with mid-year draft budget cuts. The list of so-called mutual aid over those fifteen years is long, and to be clear it is one joint list, not two competing lists. The Town and Schools serve different segments but we are all in the same family of public service to our beloved Reading community.
Late last week an email to the Select Board revealed some troubling comments directed at our teachers. Dr. Doherty spent a great deal of time in conversation with Police Chief Clark and myself, about what to say to the community at a Thursday night School Committee meeting, and respectfully even more importantly what to do. I would like to thank John for his open dialogue, his comments, and an apology that is graciously accepted. I would also like to thank other school employees, including teachers, for reaching out to further that dialogue.
After that email and some preliminary investigation, it was clear we had a problem within our Town/School family of unclear origin developing. I asked Chief Clark – well maybe it sounded more like an order – to quickly find the problem and solve it. I was not surprised to learn that Chief Clark was already working on it and within a couple of hours the situation was improved, as reported to me by a member of the Select Board. While words are important, actions are paramount. Dave – your tenure as Chief has been more challenging than anyone could have imagined. You and the Reading Police department continue to rise to meet those challenges with compassion and professionalism, and you all have my deepest thanks.
To be clear, I accept full responsibility for any hurtful comments made, directly or indirectly, by any employee of the Town. I offer a heartfelt apology to the community, and especially to our teachers. Your profession is an honorable one; our students remain our future; and your responsibility is now as large as it ever has been. It is clear what I expect of Town employees, and if the steps we have taken so far do not fully solve this family problem, you have my word that it will be solved.
We are all dealing with so many difficult challenges to simply move from one day to the next. Stress levels and mental health concerns abound. To think that our own family is creating problems instead of solving them is deeply concerning to me. It feels like a crushing (though not fatal) blow to fifteen years of unity, and it is something that I take personally.
Last week John, Dave and I spoke a lot about the need for everyone to take a step back and a deep breath. I very much look forward to the day where we all have the luxury to agree on that course of action.
Thank you Mark, for allowing me to say these few words. I will have additional remarks during my Town Manager Report later tonight.
