Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 GRABOWSKI’S | FROM PAGE 1 meeting to sanction him for remarks they perceived as “racist” and for him to take a sensitivity training class. They also wanted their colleague to apologize to anyone he offended. Grabowski’s refusal to accept responsibility for his offensive comments, apologize publicly and seek sensitivity train$2.39 ZOOMED OUT: The Saugus School Committee at Wednesday night’s (March 31) meeting on SaugusTV. Members publicly chided their colleague, Arthur Grabowski, for his refusal to apologize for offensive remarks. ing motivated three committee members to call for his resignation during Wednesday’s (March 31) meeting, which was held via Zoom teleconferencing. Another committee member condemned the remarks as “damaging” and “harmful” in a school district where a significant number of students are English Language Learners (ELL). “I’m asking you to step down,” School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge told Grabowski. “I can’t make you step down. But the right thing to do is step down because we’re sending the wrong message to our ELL community – a terrible, terrible message,” he said. The contents of the Executive Session minutes (see related story) became public this week after the committee had approved them at last Thursday’s (March 25) meeting. Whittredge initiated comment about the Executive Session during Wednesday night’s meeting, even though it was not on the agenda. Whittredge stressed that it was not the intent of the School Committee to call for Grabowski’s resignation, nor to embarrass him. “We wanted Mr. Grabowski to own up to his mistakes and we wanted him to take a sensitivity class to better himself,” Whittredge said. “And he’s done neither of these. He decided to go on the offensive… he blames the rest of the committee for his deplorable remarks.” Whittredge was referring to recent comments that Grabowski made in interviews with local news media in which he criticized committee members for trying to interpret his comments instead of focusing on how to improve the school district. “If you had done what we asked you to do, we wouldn’t be here right now,” Whittredge said. “But, here we are – we’ve got to defend ourselves even though we got all of this great stuff going on in the district. Grabowski has emphatically denied that his comments were racist, but when asked by Whittredge on Wednesday night if he wanted to respond to the committee’s comments, he stood silent. But Grabowski called for “a point of order” as Whittredge prepared to read several emails from residents during the public comment period. Most of those comments were critical of Grabowski and called on him to resign from the committee. Referring to a School Committee policy, Grabowski said the committee shouldn’t be allowing “improper remarks.” “Defamatory or abusive remarks are always out of order,” he said. “I am pre-empting this sitON THE HOT SEAT: During Wednesday night’s meeting, School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski drew heavy criticism from fellow members about comments he made in January which they believe could be construed as “racist” to school employees who don’t speak English and English Language Learners. (Saugus Advocate Photos by Mark E. Vogler) uation to ask that the policy be enforced by the chairman,” Grabowski said. School Committee Member John Hatch took umbrage to Grabowski’s comments. “I wish the speaker would take his own advice and we wouldn’t be here in the first place,” Hatch said. Colleagues were looking for an apology All of Grabowski's colleagues denounced his comments, which were the subject of the March 11 Executive Session: Hatch: “People like Mr. Grabowski himself constantly put up educational roadblocks, constantly put up walls for the superintendent to accomplish the goals of the district and the School Committee with situations like this. This can’t go on any further. Over the past two School Committees, there’s been at least four significant issues surrounding things like this. This has gone well beyond what we can tolerate. “I stand behind you [Whittredge] and I agree with you and I think the proper thing to do would be for Mr. Grabowski to step down.” School Committee ViceChair Ryan Fisher: “What has been concerning about this to me is this is an issue I hope could have been resolved very quickly...If a teacher were to tell a student at a young age that they are not inclined toward particular skill sets, that’s something that is going to follow them. That’s something that can be damaging. We’re community leaders here. The comment itself, it was harmful GRABOWSKI’S | SEE PAGE 15
3 Publizr Home