Public speakers praise Appleton East band’s national selection; veteran parent urges more school safety training

Two members of the public addressed the Appleton Area School District board during the public‑input period on Monday with separate topics: a band teacher/parent recognized Appleton East’s band for a national performance invitation, and a parent‑veteran urged additional safety training at district schools.

Julie Brown, who identified herself as a band teacher in the Appleton Area School District and as the parent of an Appleton East band student, told the board she wanted to “shine a very well‑deserved spotlight on the Appleton East band program.” She said Appleton East had been selected to perform in Hawaii for a 50th‑anniversary commemorative event marking the end of the Vietnam War and that the selection was made by a National Vietnam Veterans Association committee. Brown thanked band teacher Margaret LaFleur and the students, noting the band will travel over spring break and that no other band from the state had been selected for this event.

Brown also listed recent East activities and achievements that board members often hear in student reports: varsity dance and cheer qualifying for state competition, DECA members advancing to nationals, forensics category champions and finalists, a canned‑food drive in which East collected more than 1,000 cans, and community volunteer hours logged through the Johnston Ycare program.

In a separate public comment, Ross Vanjack introduced himself as a parent and a veteran and expressed concern about increasing school violence nationally. He said he had been in contact with Horizon Elementary’s principal and offered, along with other veterans he knows, to provide training for staff on spotting and deescalating potentially dangerous situations. Vanjack said his goal was to help reduce the risk of serious injury or loss of life.

District leaders responded during the meeting. Superintendent Mr. Hartjes (present for administration) and other staff said the district “takes security very seriously” and described an existing safety‑and‑security work group led by Mr. Scurrett. Administrators said the district coordinates with local police and outside experts, conducts regular preparedness work at schools and would evaluate requests for additional training, and that they would follow up with the Horizon principal about specific offers of assistance.

Board policy procedures were announced before public input: speakers are asked to register and are limited to three minutes; the board’s public‑input guidance references district policy 187 and policy 870 as the appropriate channels for personnel‑ or student‑specific complaints. The district also reminded attendees that the Wisconsin open‑meetings law allows only limited discussion of non‑agenda topics during the meeting.