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Public commenters allege teacher escorted special‑needs student to abortion; State Board says district oversight is primary
Summary
Public commenters at the State Board of Education meeting said reporting shows a teacher counseled and transported a student with disabilities to an abortion clinic and that parents and authorities were not notified; the board said personnel and discipline are handled by districts and urged written submissions to initiate follow-up.
Margaret Spencer, a member of the public, used the State Board of Education’s public‑comment period to repeat reporting she said appeared in the Boston Globe that a teacher counseled a special‑needs student about abortion and drove the student to a clinic.
"This went on for 2 and a half weeks," Spencer said during public comment, adding that, "According to the Boston Globe, the local Amherst police and the state police were not notified" and that parents and child‑welfare authorities had not been told, according to reports she cited.
A second commenter, who identified herself as Susan, said she and members of her family now question whether it is safe to place children in public schools and asked whether the teacher remains employed in the state. Paul Velaso, another public commenter, framed the episode in pro‑life terms and urged the board to take action.
The presiding board member replied that the State Board is not the immediate oversight or disciplinary authority for local school employees. "This is not a board of education oversight issue at this point," the presiding member said, and directed commenters to submit material in writing so staff and the proper local authorities can follow up.
Board members and staff urged those with additional documentation to file it with the appropriate district or department offices so officials who do exercise personnel authority can investigate. The board did not take a formal action at the meeting to open an investigation.
What happens next: Board staff said the district and the Department of Education are the venues for personnel investigations; the presiding member asked commenters to provide written records to facilitate follow up.
Sources: Public comments submitted orally at the State Board of Education meeting; commenters referred to reporting in the Boston Globe and the Department of Education website during their remarks.
