Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 GRABOWSKI | FROM PAGE 1 the words [to resign],” Fisher said. “The fault was mine. I always try to lay out an argument and conclude with what I think needs to happen next, but I couldn’t get it done this time.” “I’m absolutely in lockstep with my fellow three committee members, and I don’t want anyone to think otherwise. They were short and to the point,” Fisher said. In late January, School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski barged into Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi Jr.’s office, interrupted a meeting and made a comment about the school district needing people who can speak English to operate snowblowers, according to the minutes of an Executive Session meeting about the incident. Committee members voted 4-0 during that March 11 meeting to sanction him for remarks they perceived as “racist” and 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 training motivated three committee members to call for his resignation during Wednesday’s (March 31) meeting. “I’ve done good work with Arthur and I’ve always been able to get along with him, but his comments were out of line, were racist, and he’s refused to apologize or take any responsibility for his actions, nor has he shown any willingness to improve himself or even question if he was wrong,” Fisher said in an interview this week. “He needs to resign from the School Committee.” Grabowski didn’t respond to School Committee members’ alwww.eight10barandgrille.com We Have Reopened for Dine-In and Outside Seating every day beginning at 4 PM legations and criticisms when they called for his resignation last week. And the veteran School Committee member declined to be interviewed this week to respond to the criticism and explain his remarks. Meanwhile, Fisher sought to clarify his comments this week, stressing the reason why he believes Grabowski’s comments have caused some potential damage to the committee’s credibility while disparaging students and staff in the school district who are English Language Learners (ELA.) “I think my greatest concern is that one bad day can often undo a hundred good ones, and that’s why I fear Mr. Grabowski’s comment was so damaging,” Fisher said. “He questioned why the rest of us are talking about it and why it’s so important. We need to make it abundantly clear as loudly as we can that there’s no truth behind it,” he said. Fisher recalled a comment on social media last year around the time of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests. “The poster typed that he had contacted some retired educators, looked into the matter, and concluded after these conversations that there was no THIS WEEK ON SAUGUS TV Sunday, April 11 from 9 to 11 p.m. on Channel 8 – “Sunday Night Stooges” (The Three Stooges). Monday, April 12 all day on Channel 8 – “Movie Monday” (classic movies). Tuesday, April 13 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Finance Committee Meeting from April 7. Wednesday, April 14 at 9 WE'RE OPEN! 8 Norwood Street, Everett (617) 387-9810 Aluminum Everett 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 62 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! family since 1958 • 60 •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Vinyl Siding •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Fully Licensed •Roofng •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Fully Licensed ng •Roo ng • Fully Insured • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! Everett Aluminum STAY SAFE! p.m. on Channel 8 – What’s Cookin’ with Danny. Thursday, April 15 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Football vs. Salem from April 3. Friday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Football vs. Swampscott from April 10. Saturday, April 17 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Volleyball vs. Swampscott from April 9 ***live***. Saugus TV can be seen on Comcast Channels 8, 9 & 22 (Public, Governmental and Educational). For complete schedules, please visit www. saugustv.org. ***programming may change without notice*** racism of any kind in Saugus public schools,” Fisher said. “This is an issue that impacts everyone everywhere, and we can’t ignore it, and I’m someone who has been afforded a lot of privilege in life that I never asked for, and I know with certainty that I still have a lot to learn, every day,” Fisher said. “People with the best of intentions can make a hundred mistakes. We have a large ELL population in Saugus. If a teacher, even unconsciously, even with the best of intentions, gave an ELL student the impression they weren’t as capable as other students, that could have a major impact on that student,” he said. “Treating every student the same ignores their individual needs, and highlighting differences can be just as harmful. Up at the middle-high there is a professional learning community devoted to racial justice where educators have these conversations for the benefit of these students.” Fisher noted that he and School Committee Chair Tom Whittredge sat in on one of these meetings and said he was “incredibly impressed with their commitment.” “I could read 99 positive notes and one critical one will stay with me for a long time,” he said. “All of the hard work our ELL students and teachers put into their education could be undone by one public official stating they’re not inclined to particular skills and then refusing to apologize when it’s pointed out our students are listening,” he said. “We have a diverse student body, and how we acknowledge history, address current events and openly communicate with each other is going to determine how respectful and safe this district is for all our students and staff. Some people don’t want to acknowledge these very complicated issues, and some are willing to put in a lot of work every day to improve all of us.” Spring!
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