At the start of the October 14 regular School Committee (SC) meeting, several people used the public comment option to speak about the proposed anti-racism policy which had its first reading at the meeting.

Gorham High School junior Andrea Mitchell will join Zac Lembarra as the new student representative to the SC. Lembarra reported students are happy with the hybrid plan and the fact that every sport is doing something, even those with no competitive events. Class officers were elected virtually. Ken Aldrich from Lion’s Club spoke briefly about the organization’s work with the schools. They provided $16,000 in scholarships this year and worked with Girls on the Run on a float for the Founder’s Day parade.

Superintendent Heather Perry said that a Department of Health and Human Services program for quick COVID-19 testing may still happen, but there are still questions about validity so there are no plans at this time. The budget process is underway. The district has applied for a Care Relief 2 grant where the state awards federal money for expenses related to the pandemic that must be spent in 2020. The district sent flowers to the schools in recognition of the work of essential workers.

During time for communication from SC members, Darryl Wright said there had been lots of conversation by email and on Facebook about the anti-racism policy. He urged people to be kind, saying, “Kindness starts at home. We can disagree, but do it respectfully.” Anne Schools agreed that this is not a political issue.

Jennifer Whitehead spoke about the anti-racism policy and said she understood what the students who proposed it faced. She said she loves Gorham, but she, her Black husband and biracial children have experienced racism firsthand from Gorham children and adults. She said, “People say it doesn’t exist here but it does,” and she gave an example of verbal attacks and racist harassment they have all experienced. She said the policy is not a criticism of the Gorham police. Whitehead, whose term expires next month and who is not running for re-election, urged the SC to adopt the anti-racist policy “because Black and white students need it.”

Kate Livingston, who also is not running for re-election, expressed her appreciation to all the district staff. Phil Gagnon encouraged people to vote for the referendum for funding capital improvements. Bill Benson, the other retiring SC member, reminded people that “the best public schools are in communities that involve everyone.”

SC Chair Stewart McCallister reported that the recent heat pump failure was one example of the need for the capital improvement funding vote. The Narragansett kitchen should be completed about Thanksgiving; equipment and supplies had been late. Perry said that Child Development Services (CDS), a separate program administered by the state, is scheduled to go to local schools, but there has been no action on that yet. Michael Sanborn, director of Dining Services, reported that instead of the National School Nutrition program with guidelines for providing free meals to qualifying families, the district will have funding to continue the Summer Feeding Program. That program waves eligibility and mandates free meals to everyone ages two through 18. Federal funding allocates $4.15 for lunch and $2.28 for breakfast. This program will continue through the school year. There will be home delivery for those who need it.