Parents defend Deal Island Elementary after Superintendent was caught on hot mic suggesting it should close
SOMERSET COUNTY, Md. – Somerset County parents are outraged and speaking out tonight after the district’s superintendent was caught on hot mic suggesting Deal Island Elementary School should close.
That outrage stems from what would have been a typical school board meeting Tuesday night in Somerset County, but has proven to be anything but in the days that followed. That’s because the school system’s live stream of the meeting didn’t stop broadcasting when the meeting ended, and what it caught in the minutes before it stopped has caused an uproar in the Deal Island community.
Superintendent Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell was caught on camera near the microphones speaking to a colleague about Deal Island Elementary School where she could be heard saying it should’ve been dealt with years ago, eluding to the school’s closure.
At one point, near the end of the stream, Dr. Tasker-Mitchell appears to notice the broadcast hadn’t stopped and can be heard saying “is that thing off over there?”
Once the community learned of what was said, shocked parents took to social media to call her out and defend the school.
Dr. Tasker-Mitchell has since apologized, and in an interview she told WMDT’s Rob Petree that she has no plans to close Deal Island Elementary School.
“Not for Deal Island, and not for any other school in Somerset County,” Dr. Tasker-Mitchell said emphatically. “I do not have any plans to close that school at all.”
But not all parents are convinced, including Andrew Travers who has three children who attend the school.
“I do not believe her,” Travers said. “What she’s saying now, that she plans to keep the school open. I think the problem is, is that the community, which Deal Island has and will always come together and join, and this is what you’re seeing today.”
Lauren Eby, who also has a child that goes to Deal Island, tells us how the school’s smaller size has attributed to her daughter’s success, something she and other parents would hate to see taken away.
“The classrooms are a little smaller, but some children need that to thrive in school. I did,” Eby said. “Because you get more of a one-on-one and more help than being pushed to the back of the classroom.”
During our interview, Dr. Tasker-Mitchell apologized again and said she recognizes how much pride parents have in Deal Island Elementary School.
“I want to absolutely apologize to the Deal Island Community for any angst that I may have caused them in this particular situation,” Dr. Tasker-Mitchell stated. “That was not my intention to do that at all because I know how much pride they have in their school and as a community.”
After posts on the issue went viral on social media, parents were even more outraged to learn that the end of the meeting where those comments were made was cut from the public record. It’s since been restored.
A meeting will be held on January 9th from 6 to 7 pm at Deal Island Elementary School where the Superintendent plans to meet with the community.
