Latest news with #SchoolBoard
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Brave Illinois 5th-grade girl stands up to school board that allowed trans athlete to crush dreams of female students
A brave fifth-grader stood up to an Illinois school board after a transgender athlete 'crushed' the competition at girls' track meet. Outraged parents and students alike have been criticizing the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 following the event last month, at which the transgender runner won three events against seventh-grade girls. At a board meeting on Monday night, Cali McKinnon stood in front of the microphone and delivered a damning statement. 'I'm standing up for the girls who ran in the track meet,' she said. 'They worked really hard to get there and a boy came in and got first, and the boy made a fast girl not get the place she deserves. 'Men and women are very different, this is why there are boys sports and girl sports. I love sports and I would hate it if a boy came in and beat me. 'My favorite sports are soccer and swimming. In both of these sports boys and girls are separated. 'Boys and girls have different strengths, I think Naperville should keep girls and boys sports separate to make it fair for everyone.' Outraged parents and students alike have been criticizing the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 following the event last month, at which the transgender runner won three events against seventh-grade girls The youngster's comments were met with a round of applause from those in attendance. Some of the banners held up by those included 'protect girls sports + spaces' and 'protect girls sports'. One sign near the back of the room did appear to support trans rights. At the meeting, the board also heard from a student named Layne, who said: 'I had gender dysphoria. The spread of transgender ideology is a result of a society that is growing sick. 'A symptom of a dysfunctional society without God. I want to expose these demonic entities because this is how we set our children free.' Layne told the meeting that she was there representing the gay-rights group Gays Against Groomers. Those in opposition to the inclusion of transgender athletes are part of the group Awake Illinois, set up by parents and concerned citizens in 2021. At previous board meetings, group members have argued against the existence of transgender and intersex athletes, saying that chromosomes cannot be changed. The group filed a civil rights complaint against the school district, saying that it violated Title IX. Title IX is a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that are backed with federal funds. Doug Krein and his wife Marie Davis told Fox News last month that their 12-year-old daughter would have won a 200m race if not for the transgender athlete. 'My job as a parent is to advocate for my daughter and protect her. And the hardest thing is trying to tell her why she lost to a boy in seventh grade,' Krein said 'It's like they're trying to erase women's sports. Erase women.' In a statement, the school district said: 'In regards to our procedures, Naperville 203 adheres to the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Illinois State Board of Education guidance, which prohibit discrimination in schools and ensure full and equal access to programs and services regardless of gender identity or other protected characteristics.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BOLD School Board selects new superintendent
Jun. 13---- Board members on Thursday authorized entering into contract negotiations for the superintendent position with Tim Tydlacka, according to School Board Chair Todd Frank. Tydlacka was one of three finalists that participated in both a meet-and-greet and second interview for the position on Thursday, June 12. The other two finalists were Eric Martinez, Junior/Senior High principal at Madelia Schools, and Judd Wheatley, 6-12 principal at MACCRAY Schools. Tydlacka has served as the K-12 principal at Cyber Village Academy in Minneapolis for the past two years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior positions include executive director at Harbor City International School in Duluth, English teacher at Minnesota Math and Science Academy and high school English teacher at various other schools. He holds a superintendent license and a K-12 principal license from St. Mary's University, a master's degree in education from the College of St. Scholastica and a bachelor's degree in English/language arts teacher education from Minnesota State University — Moorhead, according to his LinkedIn profile. Tydlacka will be replacing Superintendent Jim Menton. The BOLD School Board decided in a split 4-2 vote in April not to renew Menton's contract. Board members at the April 28 meeting cited concerns over the district's financial predicament and worries that the community will not trust the board and current superintendent to solve it when making the decision. The district is on track for a $700,000 shortfall or greater in this year's budget. It could grow to as large as $900,000 in what Menton described as a "worst-case scenario." The district's financial mess came to light following the resignation of the school district's business manager in September. that the district had asked for a criminal investigation into the business manager's actions.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MPS plans to enhance student voice in decision-making, ensure students have seat on board
Milwaukee Public Schools is looking to reaffirm a half-century-old policy that would allow students to have a consistent seat on the School Board. The policy reaffirmation is taking place to see what students want revised within the current legislation, said School Board President Missy Zombor. The board hopes to cut down barriers to participation and appoint a student representative to sit on the board. Zombor said students may currently struggle to participate due to the number of board meetings, which can be difficult to attend on top of schoolwork and personal responsibilities. Additionally, she said, some meetings may not feel relevant to students. Zombor is seeking student feedback on which meetings they think make the most sense for representatives to attend. "This is about opening up that conversation," Zombor said. "How do they envision what would give them the most impact, and give them the most access to the board in a way that helps them share what's most important to them?" MPS adopted Administrative Policy 8.18: Student Involvement in Decision Making in December 1971 and most recently revised the policy in July 2012. The policy states that as societal changes take place, schools make decisions that "vitally affect" students, who "wish to be involved in these decisions and express their feelings about them." The MPS Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, comprising student representatives from each high school in the district, seeks to create dialogue between students and the superintendent. Administrative Policy 8:18 states that the SSAC should develop a process for two students to be selected annually to sit with the board during deliberation. These two students are free to attend all non-executive board sessions, receive all nonconfidential materials and speak to the board, under the administrative policy. However, students on the board are not allowed to vote or make motions. Zombor explained that MPS is bound by state statutes that require voting members to be selected by the electorate. Despite this, she said the board will still try to give students to as much access as possible. "Having a student on the board helps remind us that every decision we make impacts students," Zombor said. "I'm really looking forward to reaffirming that policy." David Valdés, student engagement associate for SSAC, said it's important to him to see students expressing themselves freely to adults who are willing to listen. He cited school safety and mental health as two concerns that students frequently bring up in SSAC meetings. "We need to build a bridge so that our kids are able to speak openly about what's going on in their school without shame," Valdés said. "They should be able to have adults in their life in the district who are willing to listen to them." Having a student seat on a school board isn't unique to MPS, Zombor said. Some nearby school districts already have this in their administrative policy. Kaymin Phillips, a senior at Shorewood High School, has served as one of the Shorewood School Board student representatives for a year. The student body elected her in June 2024, and she began attending biweekly board meetings in September. Phillips said she applied for the position her junior year because she's always been interested in politics and felt it was a chance to be involved in a "mini government." "As a minority, I know a lot of people don't feel heard, and I know that having those voices in that type of seat is very important," Phillips said. "Being able to advocate for my fellow students and everything feels good, to know that we're helping make a difference." Phillips said it makes her hopeful to hear that MPS is working to implement student voices on its board. She said students should use the opportunity to speak up for their teachers with everything MPS is going through. On May 13, the Shorewood School Board voted unanimously to eliminate one staff position and reduce three other positions to part time. Phillips said she and other students pitched ideas to the board opposing the cuts and supporting their teachers. "My voice really helped during that decision," Phillips said. "I feel like they were just thinking of money, but not thinking of the students who it was affecting, cutting classes that we enjoy and cutting teachers." The policy reaffirmation will be requested at the Committee on Legislation, Rules and Policies meeting June 12. Zombor said the School Board has asked Valdés for any student-recommended policy changes and has invited students to reach out to board members directly with their thoughts. "This is a really great way for students to get involved in the district and get involved in change, and learn how one person can make change through policy," Zombor said. The immediate implementation of a student seat on the school board will depend on whether SSAC students can elect a representative by the beginning of the school year, Zombor said. She added that while the student representatives would ideally start by the September board cycle, she wants them to participate in some sort of orientation before jumping into meetings. In the future, Zombor said the policy can always be revised to reflect what works best for students. "I feel like a lot of schools might think it's cool to add a representative position just for the outside look and showing that 'We value our students,'" Phillips said. "But I think it's really important for the actual school members to be listening to what they say, instead of just having them there to listen." Contact Mia Thurow at mthurow@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS School Board president wants to add student seat
CTV News
09-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Insight into restructured RISE special needs program
Jacqueline Anderach received a letter from the public school board last week outlining changes to the Reaching Individual Success and Excellence (RISE) special education program in September. 'I need him to move ahead, not backwards,' said Anderach, who worries her son might fall further behind in the new system. 'I would really like to see them grandfather this program, allow these children that are currently in RISE to finish, you know, allow them the opportunity for success here. Every child learns differently.' With a focus on language, arts, and math, RISE provides individualized programming for students. That will change in September after a deep year-long consultation period led by researchers, involving parents, students, and many stakeholders. This fall, students from the RISE program will be placed in their homerooms full-time instead of part-time. 'When they go back to the homeroom, we're going to be looking at individualized support, especially in reading,' said Chris Mills, superintendent of Education and Special Education. 'We've purchased some additional resources to help with math knowledge attainment.' Mills said the change was necessary. 'The original intent of the program was for students to go in for a short period of time to catch up to the same age level peers and then return to the homeroom,' Mills explained. He said the board found that didn't happen for some over the course of time. 'Students stayed in those courses for long periods of time and that changed their trajectory. It forced decisions at the high school level and then forced decisions at post-secondary. A lot of our students not going to college or university.' Mills said instruction will come from the homeroom teacher with help from learning support staff, which many schools will receive. He added students will continue to have access to learning tools like computers and iPads. 'We want to support our students,' Mills said. Mario Spagnuolo, local president of the Essex County District School Board, feels it's not a one size fits all model. 'For some kids, it will work, but we've had that option of integration all along anyways,' noted the local president of the Greater Essex Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. 'It's for the kids that really need that intense programing, they won't have that option anymore.' Spagnuolo said he recently met with representatives at the school board, suggesting they work together to advocate with the current government to secure more funding for students with special needs. 'The data is very clear. There's billions of dollars being taken out of public education so instead of fighting each other, why don't we come together as a community and go after where we all are pointing fingers – and that's the Ministry of Education,' Spagnuolo said.
CBC
09-06-2025
- CBC
Fredericton police to add more security cameras, including at 2 high schools
Fredericton police plan to have eyes on two city high schools, but the force and school district insist it's not because of a specific incident or trend. Fredericton High School and Leo Hayes High School will each get two security cameras, to be installed on school grounds as part of a plan by police to add a total of 14 cameras across the city this summer. "These schools are communities, small communities in and amongst themselves," Fredericton police Insp. David Cooper said. "And we figured, hey, here's an opportunity to ask the school board to jump on board with this. And they certainly agreed, and they're participating in the program." WATCH | Additional eyes on Fredericton high school students starting this fall: Police security cameras coming to Fredericton high schools 41 minutes ago Duration 1:58 Fredericton police will install security cameras at two high schools in the city in an attempt to deter crime and more easily solve investigations. The 14 new cameras will be an addition to the 28 security cameras set up across Fredericton over the past two years. The program was started in response to concerns about downtown crime, with 12 cameras installed in 2022. Of those, five are described as "community cameras," with their footage viewable by the public on the city's website. The other seven can only be viewed by police and city staff. Another 16 cameras have since been installed, all only viewable by police and city staff. Adding even more security cameras was one of 47 recommendations put forward by a group asked to come up with ways to reduce crime in Fredericton. In addition to the four cameras to be installed at the high schools, 10 will be installed along the Northside Trail, Crosstown Trail, the roundabout at Woodstock Road and Smythe Street, and in the downtown business district. Cooper said the idea to put security cameras at the two schools wasn't prompted by a specific incident. Rather, he said, the move is a proactive measure in light of the number of people who visit and occupy the schools on a regular school day. "When you have an area, a building where there's a thousand people in it, that's a lot of people," Cooper said. "And public safety is always a concern when you have that many people in one small area, which is why we offered the opportunity to the school board." District paying for high school cameras The beefed-up surveillance on Fredericton's two anglophone schools isn't coming free of charge. The four new cameras will cost Anglophone West School District $7,000 each, said superintendent David McTimoney. Police "explained the initiative and how it works with other partners, with the business community here in the city," he said. "And I thought that that we as a school system might also benefit from that partnership." McTimoney also said there hasn't been one single incident or trend that prompted the district to adopt the cameras. He said the schools already have their own security cameras inside, and that the additional cameras will add another layer of security for staff and students while they're on and around school grounds. "Proactively, it can certainly provide a sense of security for those who who are on the grounds," he said. "And then of course, after the fact, if there is an incident that occurs, it could certainly help with any type of investigation that might be required as well." Cameras have proved useful, says officer Since security cameras were installed nearly three years ago, they've helped with investigations into a handful of cases, Cooper said. Those include a fatal crash between a truck and cyclist at King and Westmorland streets, which didn't end with charges against the driver. The cameras "made the investigation simple because it all played out on camera," he said. Footage was also captured from the night André Bourgeois was assaulted in the Tannery last fall. He died five days later, and a 19-year old and three youth now face manslaughter charges. Other incidents caught on camera include arson af two downtown buildings and an incident where the downtown library was broken into and vandalized. Cooper said the cameras' footage can be viewed in real time by dispatchers, as well as by police officers if they want to monitor an event. The footage is kept for 14 days, with only supervising officers allowed to go back and review past footage.
