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Board opens review of K'12 gender lessons and faces community debate over Diwali, Eid and bond concerns
Summary
The board launched a faculty-led review of K'12 gender lessons and proposed a calendar that blends some cultural observances with professional-development days; public speakers pressed the board on bond costs, enrollment claims and urged either full days off for Diwali/Eid or stronger in-school programming.
The Hastings Board of Education opened a review of the district's K'12 gender-education lessons and debated proposed calendar changes that would recognize Diwali and Eid through programming and, in some cases, blend those observances with superintendent conference days rather than grant a full school day off.
District administrators said a gender-lessons committee has been formed with faculty representation and that the process will include student "empathy interviews" and stakeholder feedback; the committee aims to complete its work by mid-March. "We will keep you posted as the work progresses," said Dr. Melissa Stavansky, noting the district follows the New York State Education Department's culturally responsive framework for curriculum guidance.
Public commenters expressed sharply different views. Elizabeth Adenolfi told the board she had originally supported moving fifth grade to Hillside but, after reviewing floor plans, concluded the idea was not feasible; she also criticized a board comment that characterized dissent on gender lessons as "misguided," calling that phrase "incredibly offensive" and arguing good-faith disagreement should be welcome. "If you don't agree with this 100%, you are a bigot or hateful or a hate monger and you should leave Hastings," Adenolfi said she had heard publicly and called such rhetoric harmful.
Other commenters cited data about enrollment and taxes. Peter Swiderski of the Hastings Sustainable Schools Group said schoolwide enrollment is down by 95 students over five years, that 81 of that decline is in elementary grades, and that the bond's tax impact will be material: he cited the district's preliminary budget document and said an existing 4.5% tax projection plus an additional bond could increase average household taxes by about $800 or more.
Calendar debate: administrators proposed moving parent-teacher conferences to December, keeping a two-week winter break and combining some cultural observance recognition with superintendent conference days to preserve instructional minutes and meet BOCES and state scheduling constraints. Some trustees and members of the public pressed for full days off for Diwali and Eid as a sign of inclusion; administrators asked permission to return with district-by-district comparisons and a calendar alternative that would provide full days off if the board prefers.
The board invited more input and said it would post comparative calendars for neighboring districts before the Feb. 11 meeting to help guide a final decision.
Votes at a glance: the board approved grouped business items 1'8 and then approved placement services for CSE, the personnel consent agenda and minutes grouping by voice votes; each motion was seconded and carried with an "Aye" response recorded.
