Littleton School Committee Debates Wacky Hair Day Cancellation, Backs New DEI Policy

LITTLETON -- November 16, 2023, Littleton School Committee spends an hour on Wacky Hair Day cancellation before hearing district MCAS results. Three residents, including David Gianetta, of 37 Spartan Arrow Road, who presented an 84-signature petition gathered in 11 hours, challenged Russell Street School's decision to substitute Wacky Hat Day for the 30-year spirit-week tradition, a change made within roughly 24 hours of Principal Cheryl Temple receiving a single online article arguing that wacky hair days can function as a microaggression against Black students. Superintendent Kelly Clenchy defended the intent as "advocating for minority populations that don't have a voice" while acknowledging the district could improve community communication around such decisions; the committee floated rebranding the event "Fun Hair Day" with explicit family guidance as a middle path. On MCAS, grade 10 math posted a high student growth percentile with 73 percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations, but a mid-year teacher departure left grade 7 math showing a one-percentage-point gain, only 40 percent meeting or exceeding expectations, two points above the state average. The committee voted unanimously on first readings of two sets of district policies, with a second reading scheduled for the next meeting.