Steve’s editorial note: Chariho School Committee Member Donna Chambers [Charlestown—Charlestown Citizens Alliance] wrote to me:
“Although your latest reporting is accurate about the request for policy reviews by Polly Hopkins, it is not the Leadership of Chariho as your headlines suggest. I am on the policy review committee and when these policies come up to be reviewed, they will be looked at fairly, respectfully, and with the welfare and safety of all students in mind.”
At the February 11 meeting of the Chariho School Committee, right-wing
Republicans aligned with Moms for Liberty announced their
intention to go after seven policies, targeting face masks, libraries, Title
IX, and the safety of trans and gender-diverse students.
Chariho is a regionalized school District with
representatives from Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton. The School Committee
is made up of four persons from each town.
Richmond Republican Louise Dinsmore, who
became Chair of the Committee after some legislative shenanigans, [See here and here] signed onto the Moms for
Liberty Pledge while running for office. Dinsmore joins Hopkinton
Republican and Moms for Liberty member Dianne Tefft,
who was elected to the Committee last election. I wrote about the pledge ahead of the election here.
Committee Member Polly Hopkins, a Hopkinton Republican, strongly
supported Dinsmore becoming Chair. Committee Member Dianne Tefft [Hopkinton—R]
also signed the Moms for Liberty Pledge.
Toward the close of Tuesday night’s Chariho School Committee meeting, Chair Dinsmore asked Committee Members for items to included on future agendas.
Committee Member Polly Hopkins [Hopkinton—R]: I
had a few policies that I wanted to pull for the policy subcommittee to look
at. Do you want me to email them to you? I’ll also state them.
- The
library media policy;
- The
videography, photography, and audio recording policy;
- The
automated call-out system policy;
- The
transportation policy;
- Title
IX;
- “I
know there’s going to be some changes, so we’ll have to get on board with
federal and State changes to that, and that will have to be pulled
anyways,” said Hopkins.
- The
policy for face masks and face coverings for COVID-19; and
- The
gender nonconforming and transgender students policies.
Chair Louise Dinsmore [Richmond—R]: Thank you.
If you can, put all of that in an email to the district clerk and me.
The Washington County Chapter of Moms for Liberty has
been a frequent critic of mask policies, library book access, Title IX, and
policies that protect trans and gender-diverse students.
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