Board of Education Statement on Westhill

Dear SPS Community -
At the April Regular Meeting of the Board of Education, the Board heard from a Westhill High School parent who recounted the challenges her family faced in the aftermath of a fight that occurred at Westhill on September 19, 2024. For those unfamiliar with this matter, the parent reported to the Board that one of this family’s children received an arrest notification that day on charges that were later dropped when video evidence conclusively contradicted the account of a Westhill High School administrator. The parent further stated that no one from Westhill High School reached out to her in the months following the arrest notification, which was based on inaccurate information and was withdrawn a few days later.

Many in our community have asked the Board of Education to weigh in on this matter and render a judgment. As an oversight body, the Board of Education does not play a direct role in the day-to-day operation of the public school system. We do, however, ensure accountability, through development and approval of the policies governing our school system, and it is here that we have a clear, important, and impactful role to play.

Following the April Regular Meeting, eight of the nine members of the Board met with Superintendent Lucero and Chief Compliance Officer Soules to be briefed on the parent’s concern. By invitation, Stamford Chief of Police Timothy Shaw also attended the meeting, as did Mr. Thomas Mooney, attorney to the Board. The Board members received a detailed account of the incident and the subsequent investigations into the actions of the assistant principal, who had given an inaccurate initial statement to police that resulted in the student receiving the arrest notification. Board members also inquired as to what
Westhill administrators did, and might have done differently on September 19 and in the days and months that followed.

As an oversight body, the Board adopts policies and expects that the administrators will follow them. While a thorough review and future actions in this matter continues, it is apparent that there was a failure by school administrators to follow Board Policy 5131 with fidelity. Specifically, there was a failure by school personnel to “incorporate restorative practices that emphasize accountability, reparation of harm, and the restoration of relationships within the school community” and “engage families in the disciplinary process through regular communication and involvement in restorative practices.”

The Board awaits a further report from the Administration as to all the facts and what remedial steps it has taken. In the meantime, the Board is committed to doing right by the family involved in this incident and to assuring that the Administration does so as well. It is imperative that the Administration take all necessary steps to ensure that all Board policies are followed with fidelity moving forward. Moreover, the Board is committed to working with the Superintendent to ensure that the lessons learned in this challenging instance are replicated throughout the district.

Today, on behalf of the Board of Education we acknowledge the failures that occurred here and offer our deepest regret and apology to this student and the family for the pain this incident has caused.

As a school community, we must, can, and will do better.

Michael Hyman
President
Stamford Board of Education