AMHERST — Members of the Amherst Regional, Pelham and Amherst school committees are calling an anonymous, typewritten letter critical of Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman and her administration, accompanied with confidential and personal information about a school district employee, both unacceptable and disappointing, while endorsing the work of the district’s leader.

“The school committees give full support to Dr. Herman and her leadership and vision,” reads the joint statement crafted Tuesday evening during an hourlong discussion among the nine members of the regional panel, the five overlapping members of the Amherst committee and three members of the Pelham committee, including two who also serve on the regional committee. “This kind of personal and unsubstantiated attack has no place in the districts or the region, or anywhere.”

The statement also says: “We want to strongly state in no uncertain terms that the disclosing of confidential information of a district staff member is unacceptable. This matter has been referred to the Amherst Police Department for investigation. In addition, we want to clearly express our disappointment in the actions of this community member. We acknowledge that change can be uncomfortable, but there are ways to address concerns that are transparent, accountable and that aim to improve rather than destroy.”

During the discussion, members were firm in criticizing the letter, but also acknowledged that they were willing to consider legitimate issues brought forward in a responsible way.

“The letter was just wholly unacceptable in every way, which does not say that I don’t want people to come to talk to us if they have thoughts or concerns,” said Regional School Committee Chairwoman Sarahbess Kenney of Pelham. “I welcome the discussion and information, but I would like it to be in a way that comes with actual information.”

Shutesbury representative Anna Heard called the letter “a generalized complaint with no real substance to it, it’s not helpful,” and urged her colleagues to condemn the communication, not be accepting of it, and to show more support for Herman. “Anything beyond that waters it down,” Heard said.

“If you have concerns, please give them to us, but do it in a way that is not anonymous and unaccountable,” Heard said.

Last week, in marking her 100th day on the job, Herman released a statement that the letter, which the Gazette received through the post office in early November, was a breach of privacy that she strongly condemns because it goes against the district’s values of respect and trust, and providing a supportive environment for all staff.

The typewritten letter, with an attached two-page public official bond application and indemnity agreement from a municipal employee, came in an envelope with a written return address of APEA, possibly referencing the Amherst Pelham Education Association union, though the union, like the committees, has condemned the critiques contained in the letter and the actions of the anonymous sender.

The letter features the phrase “people want to know” written in red ink at the top. It asks many questions about Herman’s leadership and appeals to the School Committee to “rescue us.”

Amherst representative Jennifer Shiao wrote the original joint statement that other committee members modified. Shiao’s concern was mostly about the amount of support the committees should offer Herman.

“I don’t want to fall into the unconditional support trap,” Shiao said.

Shiao said while the allegations in the letter were unspecific and anonymous, there could be cases where legitimate complaints arise in such a way and could be taken seriously. “I don’t want to discourage people from giving us input, because our job is to serve the public,” Shiao said.

Both Amherst representative Sarah Marshall and Leverett representative Tilman Wolf said they want to give Herman full support. “I have not seen anything that would not allow me to give my full support to Dr. Herman,” Wolf said.

Amherst representative Bridget Hynes said the letter was unacceptable, illustrating the district’s ongoing problem with bullying, and that the superintendent needs space and time to do her job and execute her vision.

“I just felt like it’s important to let the community know that we have trust and faith in the actions, and that this type of thing isn’t going to get airtime from us,” Hynes said.

Amherst representative Deb Leonard said either statement worked for her.

“The essence of both messages is it’s totally unacceptable to target and release employee information. Period. And I’ve seen absolutely nothing in the very few months that Dr. Herman has been in district that causes me any concern,” Leonard said.

Herman speculated the letter may have been put out by an individual or group who decided to do something that would be detrimental to her career and her employees.

She added she’s never presented as a person who doesn’t want to be held accountable for her actions, but also cautioned that she can’t be held responsible for past actions by previous administrators.

“What I’m not open to is the fact that I have to then prove my worth because of what someone else did, versus coming in and creating the opportunity for me, or having the opportunity to do this, to make my mistakes and have to answer for them,” Herman said.

Herman said she is building a system to make sure children prosper.

“What we’re seeing here is also an issue what are the changes that are being made that someone is not comfortable with because their comfort level has shifted or changed,” Herman said.

Amherst representative Irv Rhodes said the district’s values haven’t changed.

“As a result of this letter, I am not discouraged by it, (but) I am really disappointed that it had to come out in such a way,” Rhodes said. “And it gave me pause when I read it, because it sounded as if the person or persons had some difficulty in expressing their opinions in an open and honest way.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.