A crowd attended the Waterbury Board of Education meeting on Monday night to voice their concerns about the board's choice of superintendent. Supporters of a local candidate for the job complained that race was an issue in the decision.
"I do not believe you gave Dr. Portia Bonner the chance she merited, simply because she's black,” one frustrated woman told the Board of Education Commissioners.
Most of the people who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting supported Portia Bonner, a Waterbury native who was not chosen as the new superintendent of Waterbury schools.
In a straw poll behind closed doors last Monday night, the board voted 6-4 in favor of Manchester Supt. Kathleen Ouellette, who is white. That preliminary vote surprised many, who were told the vote would take place at the Aug. 8 meeting.
It also outraged Bonner supporters, who said the former New Bedford, Massachusetts superintendent is more than qualified for the job.
"I've known Portia all her life and she's a great, great, great individual,” George Davis, of Waterbury, said.
Tensions grew between the crowd and the school board. In an effort to be more transparent with the frustrated audience, the board voted not to go into executive session, and discussed the issue publicly.
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But not everyone was convinced that the board was really listening.
"It's a dog and pony show. It's just outrageous. It's in your face. It's scary. It really is,” Jimmie Griffin, of Waterbury, said.
After several members of the school board explained why they would be voting in favor of Ouellette, a majority of the audience members walked out before the votes were even tallied.
With a vote of 7-3, Ouellette was appointed the new superintendent of schools.
She then came into the room for the first time and addressed the diminished crowd.
" I know, I know there is disappointment in this room, however I vow to change that disappointment into approval,” Ouellette said.
