Tensions were high at this past Smithtown Board of Education meeting, with parents rallying against covid-19 restrictions imposed in schools. However, the most notable exchange occurred when the second to last speaker spoke during the public portion of the meeting.
Kate Carrey, a mother in the district and educator, voiced her concern to John Savoretti, the newly elected board member. Savoretti ran for an ongoing term and is currently seated. The other two candidates that he ran with have not yet started their terms. As previously reported, the challengers ran in opposition to how the district approached topics of racism in schools and criticized the reopening policy.
Carrey began with, “I’m going to direct my questions toward Mr. Savoretti. I’m a parent, raising my three children here in Smithtown, as well as being a public educator for the past 27 years. I watched the PTA moderated live-streamed event, which you did not attend. In fact, I saw your two-minute campaign video. Before that, I had not heard any of your views on education. Actually, your video didn’t share much information for parents other than some-”
At this point, Carrey was interrupted by the Chair of the School Board as her questions were not addressed to the entire board. This was reiterated multiple times. One board member emphasized that the board was one unit, one “team” of which Savoretti was now a part.
Carey continued, “I’d like to know if you can elaborate such statements as ‘we need to wake up and do what’s right for our community and make a change.’ The campaign also suggested that equity teams are ‘dangerous’, and I’d like some explanation about that.”
“The New York State Department of Education asked us to look at what schools are doing and understand that achievement gaps can be misinterpreted if we fail to account for the lack of student opportunities to learn, and it is the duty of educators to go deeper and examine root causes..”
She gave the definition of equity from the New York State Department of Education as “the guarantee of fair treatment access opportunity for all while striving to eliminate all barriers” that hinder success.”
She finished her remarks with, “I’d like to know how you plan to support this framework so that all students can thrive.”
Savoretti waited until after the next agenda item to deliver his response.
“To show you a bit of history about myself, just so that everybody knows where I’m coming from, my first-grade teacher had me pegged to not going to college and not graduating high school because English wasn’t my first language. It wasn’t my second language. It was my third.
“I was placed in remedial reading, remedial writing, speech… all the extra classes possible are what a good school district did for me. A first-grade teacher – and I remember to this day – because of her actions, not only did I graduate from High School, I graduated from Adelphi University with a four-year degree.”
My parents couldn’t help. I don’t know if anyone in this room had their parents apologize because they didn’t speak English, so me and my brother did it on our own.
And that teacher took her time, called me over after lunch, ‘don’t go to recess, review tests with me. Sit down and read with me.’
That’s the type of teacher I want. I don’t want anybody left behind. I want everybody to succeed no matter what their limitations are. That’s why I ran for school board.
Now you know where I’m coming from.”
The other speakers during the public portion took issue with a special education teacher who was criticized during the campaign for his political statements. However, this could not be discussed as it was a personnel matter. Such matters are handled privately with the administration. Some other speakers also criticized the district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion plan.
Jeremey Thode, a lame-duck board member, missed his final meeting, as well as the previous meeting.
Editor’s Note: The remarks of Carrey and Savoretti were abbreviated for space. A full version of the exchange can be found on the district website.
