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Residents press committee on classroom content and test scores during open forum
Summary
Speakers raised concerns about language used in school settings, protection of children from certain content, stronger cell‑phone enforcement and low state test scores; committee members thanked public commenters and discussed forming subcommittees to address RICAS results.
Westerly — Several community members used open forum time at the Oct. 16 meeting to raise concerns about classroom content, cell‑phone use and district test scores.
During the agenda open forum, John Bogue apologized for previously using language that some found offensive and said he did not intend to accuse staff of wrongdoing. He described his priority as protecting his young children from topics he considers inappropriate and said he would continue to "fight the good fight" for parental concerns. Committee members responded appreciatively to his demeanor and thanked him for returning to clarify his remarks.
At the non‑agenda open forum, Joe Jackson of Bradford urged the district to continue tightening the cell‑phone policy in classrooms and suggested forming a teacher‑led subcommittee to address low RICAS results and strengthen fundamentals in the curriculum. "Just keep doing what you're doing as far as the cell phones in the classroom," Jackson said, and recommended a subcommittee of teachers to explore curriculum adjustments to raise achievement.
Committee members indicated interest in the subcommittee idea and said they would consider adding related agenda items in future meetings.
What’s next: Committee members suggested exploring a subcommittee to examine curriculum and assessment strategies; no formal committee action on these public requests was recorded at the meeting.
