Wayland HRDEI committee co-sponsors race-amity series after superintendent's discrimination claim

WAYLAND -- February 21, 2023, Wayland's HRDEI committee unanimously co-sponsors a race-amity community conversation series amid a superintendent discrimination claim. Vice Chair Karen Blumenfeld led the Feb. 21 meeting in the absence of Chair Yamini Ranjan; members voted to back a first program organized by the reconstituted Wayland Diversity Network featuring former Wayland METCO director Manuel Fernandez, with current METCO director LaToya Rivers expected to moderate. Acting Town Manager John Bugbee said a town-wide equity-assessment article will go before annual town meeting May 1 at 7 p.m. at Wayland High School, and that the town is weighing hiring a "thought partner" to scope the RFP. Bugbee said the police graffiti investigation remains active and that a requested DEI staff position was unfunded because no new full-time positions were funded this year. Members also elected Jessica Chandel as clerk, endorsed a permanent "all are welcome" sign at the high school proposed by resident Sarah Peterson, and recommended an indigenous land acknowledgment open town meeting. New member Onji Kang, sworn in that morning, joined remotely.