Sexton declines Greenfield School Committee chair nomination; Johnson-Mussad retains position
Published: 01-07-2025 6:02 PM |
GREENFIELD — School Committee member Stacey Sexton was elected to vice chair after declining a nomination to assume Chair Glenn Johnson-Mussad’s position on Monday evening.
“I really appreciate the support that the two folks who nominated me and spoke for me are showing, and I appreciate the vote of confidence for the future,” said Sexton. “I do think that, in this moment, I would like to withdraw my acceptance of the nomination for chair, specifically. I have been very clear and very vocal that it is a position that I’m interested in for the future, but I, in my heart and my brain, know in this moment now is not the time.”
The School Committee voted 5-0 with two abstentions from Mayor Ginny Desorgher and committee member Melodie Goodwin to keep Johnson-Mussad as chair for 2025 and unanimously approved Sexton as vice chair. Before Sexton withdrew their nomination for the chair position, committee members commented on the two candidates’ leadership qualities.
“I feel that Stacey will do a good job welcoming diversity of thought,” Desorgher said. “I feel very comfortable working with Stacey.”
Committee member Elizabeth DeNeeve voted in support of Johnson-Mussad, noting that she believed the committee would benefit from consistent leadership. DeNeeve also commented that Johnson-Mussad, who took the chair position last year, has a track record of considerate and effective leadership.
“I’ve seen how difficult it is to be chair and how many different hats one has to wear, how much extra time one has to put in and I would like to see some consistency going forward into the next year, with the idea that in the future we have a lot of information to add to the handbook about how to be chair and we’re in a very good place to develop the role of the chair in writing,” DeNeeve said, speaking in support of Johnson-Mussad. “I know what it’s like to not be heard, but I have been heard this year for the very first time. Being chair does not mean that you agree with everything or you make everybody’s needs happen, but it is about juggling everything all at once and I think Glenn does a very good job at that.”
Goodwin, who nominated Sexton as chair, said she believed Sexton’s interpersonal communication skills would benefit the School Committee. She said she believed Sexton might be able to remedy some of the in-fighting, or “bullying,” that she claimed she has experienced.
“One of the things that I have personally felt is that there are times when I’m not heard on this committee and there’s a lack of communication my way. It’s like the message is quietly given to just be quiet,” Goodwin said. “I feel that, whatever issues this committee has felt in the past with bullying, the committee still faces. I’ve spent my whole career trying to teach people to respect people for who they are and I would like a chair who listens to everyone and is respectful to everyone.”
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After the committee voted to approve Sexton as vice chair, Johnson-Mussad thanked the group for nominating him to retain the chair position and committed to a respectful and functional School Committee.
Johnson-Mussad added that he admired and respected Sexton’s dedication to their role, noting that he believed the committee member could “bring strength” to “bigger roles” in the future.
“I’m very honored by the nomination. … I’ve been honored to serve as your chair for the last year. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Johnson-Mussad said. “It’s been a very challenging year for the committee, and I’ve learned a lot and grown a lot. I’ve been pleased with my ability to tackle everything from getting the policy manual over the finish line to just making sure members can get business cards or Chromebooks if they want them. … It’s been a huge learning experience, a stretching experience, and I really look forward to our next year. I definitely am committed to a School Committee where every member is respected and heard.”
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.