Westfield Rescinds Decision To Remove School Board Member

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Board of Education rescinded its motion to remove Sahar Aziz from the Board due to her absences from multiple meetings on Monday night.

A special meeting was held on Sept. 11 to rescind the motion, which was initially made by Board member Brendan Galligan during the Aug. 29 meeting.

Galligan at the time cited board bylaw 145 which notes that "a member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the board without good cause may be removed from office on the affirmative vote by a majority of the remaining members of the board."

Aziz was accused of missing a special meeting on July 18, a special meeting on Aug. 22, and a regular meeting on Aug. 29.

A deeper look at the abscesses found that the July 18 special meeting where Aziz had advised the Board prior to the meeting that she would not be able to attend due to a pre-planned trip abroad to Egypt.

"The board has determined that advance notice and an excused absence of a special board meeting is not consistent with the purpose or intent of board policy number 0145," said Board President Sonal Patal at the meeting.

Many residents aired their frustrations over the Westfield Board of Education's attempt to remove Aziz, who is the first Arab and Muslim woman elected to the Board.

Some insinuated discrimination due to Aziz's background.

"As a mother and educator at the university level, I am deeply troubled with this blatant example of intolerance in racial intimacy," said Aziz at the meeting. "The Westfield school board’s action put into serious question whether it can treat our Muslim, Hindu, and other minority students with fairness and partiality and equality."

"If they do not hesitate to engage in what I believe is unlawfully motivated behaviour against me — an elected official, a highly educated woman of color — then how will they exercise their authority to ensure our school district is free of discrimination? And provide all of the same quality of education to all of our students regardless of race, religion, ethnicity and immigrant status?" said Aziz. "This attack against me in the form of an attempted expulsion causes me to personally lose faith in our ability to do so."

Board member Charles Gelinas, who voted against the initial motion on Aug. 29, said at the Sept. 11 meeting that the punishment to remove Aziz from the Board "did not fit the crime."

All of the board members voted in favor of rescinding the motion to remove Aziz from the Board with Aziz abstaining.

After the vote, Patal read a statement reiterating the Board's commitment to students and the school community.

"Our focus on the district’s mission is to educate all students to reach their highest potential as well-rounded and engaged citizens who value individual differences and embrace diversity," said Patal, who then went on to highlight the district's goals which include "increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity across academic and extracurricular programs."

Watch the full Sept. 11 special meeting below:

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