Old Rochester School Board Member Speaks Out on Books, Bathrooms and Racism
Old Rochester Regional School Committee member Joe Pires has repeated an alarm that first sounded in October 2022 when a small group of parents protested library books they alleged were sexually explicit.
At the time, the board didn't side with the parents and refused to take action.
During a recent appearance on The Phil Paleologos Show, Pires spoke again about that issue. but also brought up other issues he believes parents are facing in the district: transgender students sharing bathrooms with other students and racism.
Pires said he's heard complaints from female students refusing to use the bathroom because the person in the next stall could have been born a male biologically.
Pires, a first-generation Cape Verdean, alleges the school board "has been infiltrated by members of a special interest group identified as Tri-Town Against Racism.
"I believe the root cause for why we cannot make common-sense decisions is because a number of school board members are part of this special interest group, and their allegiance is to this group and not the students or the community," Pires said. "TTAR hates me and shames me for sharing my story."
Although Pires said he has support from the community, "many parents will not stand up and speak out" because they are afraid to be attacked on social media and smeared.
"What's happening here is a small minority group's rights are being protected while everyone else's rights are not being protected. Protect against pornography in the library. Protect women's rights for having privacy in the bathrooms, and stop making white people feel inferior because that's anti-white, reverse racism."
He added: "I believe there's been a major push the last few years to change our school system by certain people who now feel entitled. As a father and parent, I'm asking people to get involved, raise concerns and speak out loudly to protect all children to be treated fairly."