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Parents, students urge healthier lunches, bullying investigations and a dedicated STEM space
Summary
During public comment at the June 3 Farmington board meeting, speakers urged the district to improve elementary lunches and portions, requested an investigation into alleged bullying and a yearbook photo showing a student with a gun, and a graduating student urged faster action on a proposed STEM/robotics facility.
Several members of the Farmington community used the June 3 public comment period to press the board on student wellbeing, school meals and facilities for STEM programs.
Sarah Davies, identified herself as “a parent, at Gill” and a PTA member, told trustees she supported the district’s move away from Styrofoam trays but urged healthier and more filling lunch options for elementary students. “We’re not using styrofoam anymore. That is very exciting,” Davies said. “Maybe moving forward, we can look at trying to get some healthier options for our elementary school students… I have had 70 of them come to me after school twice a week for the musical rehearsal for the last 4 months, and they are starving.”
A student speaker who identified herself as a fifth‑grader at Gay Elementary described repeated problems with school food portions and food quality and urged options such as a salad bar. “A small little plate with a portion of soggy chicken is certainly not gonna fill my appetite,” the student said, adding that much food ends up uneaten.
A grandparent identified as Grace Davies (grandmother) raised a complaint alleging a pattern of bullying against her transgender grandson and questioned why a yearbook photo showing another student with a gun was approved. “He’s gone to the school administration with this problem to no avail… I want an investigation as to why steps were not taken to stop this bullying when it first started, as well as why that picture with a gun was allowed to be published in a permanent school record,” she said. Davies said she expects follow up and that she would consider legal steps should harassment continue.
In a separate public comment, a graduating student identified as Mr. Francis said he has been involved with the district’s robotics team and urged the board to finalize a concrete plan and timeline for a dedicated STEM space at Farmington High School. “I have been in this district since the inception of HackBots, and I will be leaving before we get an addition. I don't think that's fair to anyone else,” he told trustees, requesting that the board “actively pushing for a concrete proposal that can be delivered… completed by that 2027 deadline.”
Board members responded to the public comments by noting they would follow up. After the public comment period district staff told the grandmother complainant they would follow up after the meeting and provided an opportunity for contact information for follow up.
