A Pittsfield, Massachusetts, school committee member resigned during a meeting Wednesday night when the committee cast their votes on candidates for a new superintendent. Dennis Powell, who is also the president of the Berkshire County chapter of the NAACP, said his voice is not being heard.
Four out of seven school committee members voted to offer the interim superintendent, Joseph Curtis, the permanent job. Two members voted for Marisa Mendonsa, principal at Mohawk Trail Regional High School.
Powell voted for Portia Bonner, a Black woman who is an interim superintendent in Connecticut. Powell said Bonner has "proven experience" and is determined to get a quality education for all students.
After a motion was made to make the vote unanimous to show support for the new superintendent, Powell said, "Unfortunately, I'm going to resign from this body and put my energy for the community some where where I think I will have a voice."
The committee approved the motion to make the vote for superintendent unanimous — except for Powell, whose video on the Zoom meeting had been turned off.
Committee member Daniel Elias said he values Powell's judgement and hopes he reconsiders his resignation.
Curtis accepted the position of school superintendent. The district's next step is to negotiate a contract.