TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Westwood Regional School District Superintendent Jill Mortimer hit the ground running on returning, remotely, from medical leave on June 12, advising that her stand-in, Kenneth Rota, had stepped down for personal reasons, effective immediately.
On June 16 she settled a spring skirmish over whether the district would allow the planting of a Pride sign on the lawn of the middle school—Rota had the sign pulled, citing the school board’s new policy on flying flags.
With students and others crying foul — the sign is not a flag, they said in a petition and in board meetings — and an alternate sign proposed lacking rainbow stripes altogether, they said this ought to be permitted under policy.
On June 16, Mortimer, who executes board policy, said in a parent letter, “I know this will not be popular with everyone, but I believe only the American and state flags [as per policy] should be flown outside of our buildings.”
Echoing board president Michael Pontillo, she said, “Please note, I have no objection to the Pride flag, and I am in no way ‘banning’ it. That narrative is incorrect. The high school displays a large Pride flag in the lobby of the school every June. My position is also based on the legal opinion that was provided to me by the district’s attorney. I need to use district funds judiciously, and I will not expose the district to potential costly legal fees, especially when we have significant inclusivity programming and opportunities.”
Mortimer said, “On a similar note, the only signage that should be outside the buildings are signs that advertise or relate to school events. I see a similarity with the fact that the only flyers we distribute are for student-related, non-profit organizations such as the town recreation programs, scouts, etc. Many people and groups request us to advertise something for them, yet we are judicious in our approach. Again, my opinions are not grounded in negative feelings regarding any flag, sign, individual, or group.”
She also gave updates on strategic planning and new hires, and said she’d have more to share over the summer.
The high school graduated the Class of 2023 on Thursday, June 22.
The raucous, packed four-hour board meeting June 15 at Campbell Auditorium was attended by students, teachers, parents, the president of the teachers’ union, a far-right political activist and provocateur with local roots, and self-identified parents’ rights speakers.
Many folks at the public microphone scored trustees for their 6-2 decision on May 11 that limited the display of outdoor flags to the American and state flag.
Voting against policy 8830.01 then were trustees Jason Garcia and Andrea Peck. Voting for were Township representatives Douglas Cusato, James Parrino, and Stacey Price; and Westwood’s Laura Cooper, board vice president Kristen Pedersen, and Pontillo. Township rep Irene Finarjian was absent.
Supporters have been pointing out that the administration’s recourse to the flag policy as a reason to bar the Pride sign was disingenuous, as it is not a flag and other signs are allowed.
Senior Mackenzie Fox, 18 and openly gay, one of the board’s two (non-voting) student representatives, told Pontillo that Rota told her that the board would decide whether the alternate Pride lawn sign would be permitted. Both she and student rep George Kabezian spoke out in favor of leaving the Pride sign in place, particularly as it was Pride Month. Students spoke emotionally about the value of seeing the sign as a way of feeling safe, seen, and included in the district.
Students, teachers lauded
After a variety of year-end recognitions rained on district students, faculty, and staff, Westwood Education Association President Chris Pinto praised retiring teachers and teachers honored for teaching excellence.
He said, “Collectively, they are irrefutable proof that what has been thrown at educators over the past few decades, we continue to push through and succeed in our duties.”
He also said of the WEA’s presence, “We are not here about contract negotiations. We are not here to stop families from opting out of curriculum, as we feel everyone has that right. We are not here to tell the parents of this district how to raise their children. And we are certainly not here for any secret agenda or conspiracy.”
After Pontillo gently asked him to keep his remarks to agenda items, Pinto said, “I was going to continue tonight and rail against you and make this all about our battle, but this is a positive evening and our community does not need outside influences interrupting such a beautiful event, and tonight the WEA is going to be the better person.”
Amid applause, a woman in the audience heckled Pinto, and on video appeared to leave the room. Pontillo, Westwood’s police chief, called for order and said he’d have the room cleared otherwise.
Pontillo told a speaker the original decision not to put the Pride sign up, which resembled the Pride Flag’s rainbow stripes, was made by Rota, who resigned without deciding on display of Fox’s proposed alternate Pride sign.
Pontillo said the decision not to allow the sign up last year was made by Mortimer.
“We can debate over the flag policy and whether the wording on the policy is clear or not,” said Pontillo, noting nobody has prevented Pride flags from going up inside district schools.
Fox has been outspoken about the Pride Flag sign removal from the middle school in May, and had been pressing school officials to allow an alternate sign. A petition she started to allow display of the Pride lawn sign, as have been going up on lawns in Westwood and the Township of Washington, yielded 1,515 signatures as of June 20. Fox said that the Display of Flag policy does not prohibit signs on school grounds.
On her Change.org petition, which drew television news coverage, Fox writes, “WRMS (middle school) and WHS (high school) would like to display a pride lawn sign up to celebrate pride month. In fact, WRMS put theirs up on Wednesday, May 24. On Thursday, because of pushback, it had to be removed. There is no policy prohibiting approved signs at the schools. Our principals support these signs.”
Pontillo said June 15 that the “biggest problem” against public display of Pride flags is the “public forum argument” on public land where “if we allow one we have to allow all.”
With emotions running hot, he urged attendees to be “role models for the students that may be here” and urged speakers to “get points across in a respectful way.” He noted Township of Washington police had been called to the meeting. Later, Pontillo told the audience a “scuffle” had broken out and advised the audience to let the police handle it.
A number of residents alleged the board’s actions and words — including false accusations that an elementary teacher had “gone rogue” by talking about families that include two moms or two dads — did not make the middle school and high school a safe place for LGBTQ+ students.
That was a common theme of LGBTQ+ allied speakers, many of whom waved mini Pride flags during the meeting. Both Fox and Kabezian displayed the flags at their places on the dais.
‘Unacceptable’ rhetoric, offer on hidden cameras
A 2002 Westwood graduate, James O’Keefe, who founded Project Veritas, which grew to prominence attacking mainstream media organizations and progressive groups (the company cut ties with him in February, Associated Press reported, “after his board said it had uncovered financial malfeasance”) said his new venture would hand out “hidden cameras” so that parents could “expose the corruption, lies and abuses that exist in schools throughout Bergen County.”
To that, Mortimer wrote June 20, “I am writing to address the events of the Board of Education meeting that was held on June 15. What happened that night is unacceptable. Outside groups should have no role in disrupting our meetings and making our students, parents, and staff feel unsafe. I have nothing but the utmost respect for our educators, and the efforts of some to paint them in a negative light is disheartening. I will not stand by and allow it in my professional ‘home.’”
She said, “In order to formulate a thoughtful and not rushed response, I first needed to consult with others. Last Friday, I immediately reached out to the staff to express my dismay regarding the anti-educator rhetoric that was spewed by some in attendance and on local social media. I also contacted the outgoing and incoming presidents of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators to inform them of Mr. O’Keefe’s offer to provide hidden cameras to students (which violates board policy, as I outline below).”
She said “Chief [Richard] Skinner of the Township of Washington Police Department and I spoke, and there will be a police presence at both the July and August Board of Education meetings. The need to continue this will be evaluated at the end of the summer. I am saddened by the fact that it is necessary.”
Mortimer said, “At my request, I met with the Bergen County Executive County superintendent of schools, Mr. Louis DeLisio, yesterday. During our hour-long meeting, we discussed our mutual concerns about the tenor of our meetings and the conversations he has had with several of our parents. Subsequently, I consulted with the board’s legal counsel this morning.”
Mortimer said, “Please know my silence up until now is not due to complacency; it is the result of formulating a deliberative response that features actions I have taken and not just words.”
She said “Numerous parents have reached out to me since the meeting, and many are concerned their children will be secretly videotaped. Please know Board Policy 5516 states students and staff members ‘should not be subject to having a video or audio recording taken of any student(s) or school staff member(s) for any purpose without the consent of the student, the student’s parent, and/or the school staff member.’”
She said “It also states that students can only use electronic recording devices at designated times as determined by the building principal. Absent written authorization … students are not permitted to make such recordings, and parents are not permitted to send their children in with hidden cameras or other electronic recording devices.”
Mortimer said “I will take swift action if I am alerted to an accusation that a recording has taken place, including school discipline as well as referral to law enforcement.”
Finally, she explained, “Individuals have implored me to intervene with some Board of Education members’ conduct in social media forums. Please know my role in the district is to follow state laws and board policies and to run the district, not to evaluate or otherwise restrict the board members.”
— With John Snyder