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Public commenters press district on curriculum and highlight skilled-trades milestones
Summary
During public comment at the Vancouver School District meeting, speakers raised concerns about diversity/equity/inclusion curriculum and gender-affirming care, and a local employer and program leader described upcoming skilled-trades events and student outcomes.
Several community speakers used the board’s public-comment period Monday to raise curriculum concerns and to highlight local career-technical education progress and events.
John Taylor, who identified himself as a parent, urged the board to “reconsider[ ] the DEI protocol here of unconditional affirmation,” and said he had concerns about clinical evidence supporting gender-affirming medical care for adolescents. “The science backing gender affirming care is just not there,” Taylor said, advocating for what he called “watchful waiting” rather than “unconditional affirmation.” The board’s public-comment rules were read at the start of the session and board members did not respond during the comment period; the board’s stated practice is to ask the superintendent and staff to follow up when necessary.
Separately, John Gerard, owner of Quail Palms, updated the board on skilled-trades programming tied to Hudson’s Bay High School. Gerard said the Hudson’s Bay building will be finished in about 45 days and invited board members to two events: a May 2 employer “grade 13” event where construction students will interview with employers, and a May 20 grand opening for the Hudson’s Bay Endeavor Technical Skilled Trade Center. Gerard provided results from last year’s event — “last year, 30 students had 75 job interviews, 26 took jobs” — and said this year’s cohort will double to 60 students. He framed the effort as helping students leave school job-ready.
Also during public comment, Eric Jensen, who identified himself as an artist, described an idea to commemorate a historical Vancouver figure; his remarks were largely descriptive of an art project rather than a request for immediate board action.
No board action was taken on the public comments during the meeting; the board’s public-comment protocol instructs speakers to submit written complaints to staff for matters requiring fact-finding or personnel review.
