There’s still seven days until Halloween (and 10 days before Target puts out the Valentine’s Day candy) but this could be the week that gives the School Committee nightmares.
The board’s meeting Tuesday night could become a regional battlefield in the latest culture wars skirmish. At its September meeting, a parent discussed her concerns over a book titled “This Book Is Gay,” which she felt contained inappropriate content for a book in a middle/high school library. Superintendent Peter Schafer initially agreed and pulled it off the shelf for further review. But after reading the book, Schafer deemed it appropriate for older students and had it placed back in a section reserved for high school students.
The book is kinda, sorta on the meeting agenda. Under state law, school committees can vote to remove textbooks once they give notice at a prior meeting. (This is in addition to the school district’s formal review policy.) Tuesday’s agenda gives notice that the school committee will consider the book at its November meeting. Whether this results in public discussion Tuesday night is unclear.
However, parents who think the book is inappropriate and those who feel its a valuable resource for a vulnerable population are rallying supporters to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
To show the amount of interest in the issue, the ACAM recordings of the July and August School Committee meetings on YouTube were watched a combined 210 times. September’s meeting was watched more than 1,800 times.
In news elsewhere in town….
SELECTMEN TO CONSIDER JOINING PFAS LAWSUIT
The Abington Board of Selectmen Monday night is expected to consider whether to join a growing number of towns and water departments suing the manufacturers of PFAS, a family of worrisome chemicals that are being found in water systems across the Commonwealth. The Abington/Rockland Joint Water Works has already signed on to the class-action lawsuit after the so-called “forever chemicals” were found in the water system that supplies the town. Town Manager Scott Lambiase said satte environmental regulators have some concern that refuse containing PFAS is buried in Abington’s old landfill off Groveland Street and possible leaching out. The town is required to conduct regular tests in wells around the site; if PFAS is found during an upcoming test, Abington could be required to undertake some cleanup actions.
“We may have damages beyond just what the the joint water works is seeking, and we should get in on this,” Lambiase told Abington News. “We’d be better off in than out.”
Long-term exposure to the chemicals, which were used in a wide spectrum of products ranging from non-stick coatings to firefighting foam, are being increasingly linked to negative health outcomes. The amount of PFAS currently found in the water system exceeds state guidelines. The Abington/Rockland Joint Water Works is planning $32 million in improvements to its water treatment plants to fix the problem.
EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY THIS WEEK
Early voting is underway statewide. Registered Abington voters can stop by Town Hall to cast ballots Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday is also the last day to register to vote.
COMMUNITY CRAFT FAIR SATURDAY AT SENIOR CENTER
The annual Abington Community Craft Fair is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Senior Center. There will be lots of vendors selling crafts, raffle prizes, cookie and baked good tables, as well as plenty of other food.
SENIOR NIGHTS FOR SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, FOOTBALL TEAMS
We’re nearing the end of the fall sports season, which means the last regular season home games for the Class of 2023. The seniors – and more importantly their parents – will be honored before their games this week. Boys and girls varsity soccer will hold Senior Night festivities before their games at 5:45 tonight. Volleyball will do the same before their 6:30 p.m. match. And the Green Wave football teams seniors will take a bow before their game on Thursday evening.
GREEN WAVE ATHLETICS SCHEDULE
Compiled by Charlotte Hernandez
Football
Thursday, Oct 27 – vs Norwell 7:00pm (SENIOR NIGHT)
Boys Soccer
Monday, Oct 24 – vs West Bridgewater 5:54pm (SENIOR NIGHT)
Monday, Oct 24 – vs West Bridgewater 4:00pm (JV)
Wednesday, Oct 26 – vs Norwell 4:00pm
Wednesday, Oct 26 – vs Norwell 4:00pm (JV)
Girls Soccer
Monday, Oct 24 – vs West Bridgewater 4:00pm (JV)
Monday, Oct 24 – vs West Bridgewater 5:54pm (SENIOR NIGHT)
Tuesday, Oct 25 – vs East Bridgewater 4:00pm (JV)
Wednesday, Oct 26 – @ Norwell 4:00pm
Wednesday, Oct 26 – @ Norwell 4:00pm (JV)
Volleyball
Monday, Oct 24 – vs Hanover 4:00pm (JV)
Monday, Oct 24 – vs Hanover 5:00pm (Freshman)
Monday, Oct 24 – vs Hanover 6:30pm (SENIOR NIGHT)
Tuesday, Oct 25 – @ Whitman-Hanson 4:00pm (Freshman)
Tuesday, Oct 25 – @ Whitman-Hanson 4:00pm (JV)
Tuesday, Oct 25 – @ Whitman-Hanson 5:15pm
Wednesday, Oct 26 – @ South Shore Vo Tech 3:00pm (Freshman)
Wednesday, Oct 26 – @ South Shore Vo Tech 4:30pm (JV)
Wednesday, Oct 26 – @ South Shore Vo Tech 6:00pm
(FOR THE MOST UPDATED GAMES AND SCORES, PLEASE CHECK ARBITER LIVE SPORTS)
MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agend includes license requests for 800 Adams Street and 1035 Bedford Street, discussions about joining PFAS-related litigation, a vacancy on the Water Commission, and the town’s energy aggregation plan, and an executive session to discuss real estate.
TUESDAY
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes updates on the Center School building, and discussions about Habitat for Humanity, ways to increase affordable housing stock, and Community Preservation Act funding requests.
Board of Sewer Commissioners, 6 p.m., Sewer Department. Agenda includes an update on the force main project and approval of drain layers licenses.
Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about projects at 380 Brockton Avenue, 18 Park Avenue, 202 Centre Avenue, 140 Rockland Street, 0 Hancock Street, 833 Washington Street, 200 Myers Avenue, 48 Lincoln Street
School Committee, 7 p.m., M/HS Library. Agenda includes “consideration of a change of schools books” regarding “This Book Is Gay,” a report from the art department director, home schooling requests, the district review report, and planned ALICE training.
Cultural Council, 7 p.m., Town Hall. The agenda does not include any specific items.
WEDNESDAY
Open Space Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about the community survey, town meeting results, future agenda items, and future meeting dates.
Charter Review Commission, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a discussion about the previous meeting’s mayoral forum, and review of possible amendments to the town charter.