Despite the hundreds of community members who turned out Monday to protest and testify against a state takeover of schools in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
voted to take over the schools on Tuesday. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the vote:
Three members - Ed Doherty, Mary Ann Stewart and Donald Willyard - voted against receivership. Doherty cited labor concerns regarding the vote and Stewart and Willyard said they were convinced to vote no following a visit to Holyoke Public Schools. They were the only two members to visit the schools.
Only two people visited the schools they were passing judgment on. Eight board members voted for a hostile takeover without having visited the schools. That's all kinds of messed up.
One parent speaking against receivership said:
"Living in Holyoke comes with a stigma," she said. "Don't add to the stigma. Don't give our critics more reason to judge our community."
Burke added, "A state takeover would be a slap in the face of those that educate our children."
And more: