Latest news with #XiomaraHerman
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Massachusetts school ordered to reinstate counselor it fired for 'misgendering' trans students
A Massachusetts school counselor has won a wrongful termination appeal and is set to be reinstated after she was accused of 'misgendering' transgender students. Delinda Dykes was permitted to reassume her position at Amherst Regional Middle School ahead of the school year after an arbitration decision that found a third-party investigation cited insufficient evidence to support her termination. Superintendent Dr E Xiomara Herman confirmed the arbitration decision on July 16, writing that the district had been ordered to 'rescind the termination of Delinda Dykes, to immediately reinstate her to her position, and to restore all wages and benefits she would have received but for the wrongful termination, less interim earnings.' Herman said that the district was required by law to comply with the ruling and was working with Dykes' representation. Dykes was fired in 2023 after a parent submitted a complaint stating that she, 'engaged in transphobic and harassing behavior based on the child's gender identity and gender expression,' according a report into the incident compiled by a third-party lawyer. The report cited an interview with a teacher at the school who claimed that Dykes was disrespectful to a transgender student when they met with her for a schedule change. Dykes allegedly misgendered the student and when they informed her they used he/him pronouns she 'did not respond respectfully.' When Dykes was told to participate in training on gender identity, the requests allegedly 'went nowhere.' The report also cited prayer circles before the school day that Dykes and another counselor, Hector Santos, led. One student reported that during these sessions, Dykes made an offensive, homophobic comment about a 'gay demon.' A secretary at the school told the student newspaper, The Graphic, at the time that Dykes and Santos invited him to a 'private prayer circle' before school.' Dykes began the prayer with, 'In the name of Jesus, we bind that gay demon that wants to confuse our children.' The 2023 investigation also accused Dykes of making inappropriate racial comments to staff, including statements about a 'race war' on campus. One employee said Dykes told her: 'You need to pick a side and stop drinking Kool-Aid like Jim Jones.' The accusations created tense divisions in the school district, with community members claiming the backlash against Dykes and Santos was racially motivated. Dykes also faced accusations of failing to properly address bullying instances against transgender and nonbinary students. The controversy surrounding the district led union members to question the leadership under Superintendent Michael Morris and Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham. In a letter sent on May 13, 2023, to the Amherst Regional School Committee, staff members expressed a 'lack of confidence in our district leadership.' The letter accused Morris of failing to supervise district offices, failing to deal with complaints of anti-LGBTQIA+ behavior from staff, which they allege created an unsafe environment for the children, and failing to collaborate with staff to support positive leadership. Morris announced in May that he would be taking a 'temporary leave' and Dr Herman assumed the position the following July, the Boston Globe reported. In a statement, Herman said that although the controversy occurred before her tenure she would work to 'build stronger systems' because the district was legally obligated to reinstate Dykes. 'I ask our community to join me in moving forward with both accountability and care. Our students are watching how we lead,' she said. 'Let us show them that leadership means learning, improving, and staying grounded in our shared commitment to a school system worthy of their trust. 'While we are complying fully with the legal requirements outlined in the arbitration ruling, our long-term focus remains on building systems that reflect our values, protect our students, and holds us all to a high standard of professional conduct.' Dykes' reinstatement has caused an uproar among parents and community members of Amherst. Jill Brevik, a resident of the town and parent of a transgender child, told the Boston Globe: 'How can someone with this depth of bigotry be returned to a role of authority and trust over vulnerable children? 'Especially if there's no apology and no recognition of wrongdoing or reconciliation with everybody that has been harmed.' Laura Jane Hunter echoed a similar sentiment, calling for the administration to give Dykes a role that doesn't allow her to interact with students. The ruling also prompted demonstrations outside the school. Daily Mail reached out to Dykes' representation for comment. Her lawyer, Ryan McLane, told the Boston Globe in 2023 that his clients didn't violate Title IX. 'They are Christians, but that does not mean that they are somehow not entitled to a fair investigation. While the law prohibits discrimination based on sex, it also prohibits discrimination based on religious beliefs.'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mold concerns addressed at Amherst-Pelham Regional Middle School
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – An assessment was conducted at Amherst-Pelham Regional Middle School for concerns of mold. In a news release sent to 22News from the school district, an independent indoor air quality study was requested for portions of the ARMS building, which was previously closed to students and staff. In March, the assessment was conducted by Atlas Technical Consultants. The key findings include the following: Air Quality: Indoor air samples collected showed mold spore levels that were comparable to outdoor levels. The EMLab MoldScore™ used to evaluate airborne mold presence in various rooms scored between 103–129—well within the 'low' range, suggesting a low likelihood that the detected spores originated indoors. Surface Sampling: Isolated instances of active mold growth were found on specific surfaces, including wooden shelves, instrument cases, and door frames—particularly in the music and family center areas. Mold types identified included Aspergillus and Cladosporium. Root Cause: Most mold was attributed to condensation and prolonged humidity, not systemic HVAC failures. Several areas of water damage were also linked to roof drainage issues. HVAC Systems: Filters in the building's vents had not been replaced since early 2023. ATLAS recommended regular filter replacement and dehumidification, especially during warmer months. New Amherst Superintendent Dr. Xiomara Herman meets with residents 'We are taking these concerns seriously. Thanks to the diligence of our facilities team, outside experts, and school leaders, we are implementing both short-term fixes and long-term improvements to ensure our learning environment is clean, safe, and healthy for all,' Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman said in a statement. To address the issues, the school district has scheduled a professional remediation to take place next week in the music and instrument storage rooms, where mold activity was most significant. Repairs to the roof were made, and a replacement is scheduled for this summer. Air filters in the HVAC have been replaced, and the custodians have cleaned the areas using EPA-recommended mold removal protocols in areas that included the Family Center, library tables, and music storage rooms. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
