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Residents urge more cursive instruction; caller asks clearer policy language on warrants and immigration agents
Summary
During public participation two speakers urged the board to revisit cursive instruction in elementary grades and to clarify search/warrant language in district policy related to immigration enforcement. Board staff responded that cursive is taught in third grade and that the district will review policy language as requested.
Two members of the public addressed the board during the public-participation segment, pressing for curricular and policy clarifications.
Marie Antoinette Lempel, who identified herself as a long-time Sycamore resident and former district employee, urged the board to revisit cursive handwriting instruction and described concerns that some children cannot read cursive documents. “They weren't able to read a single word written in beautiful cursive, and I was shocked as well as saddened,” Lempel said, describing an instance after a family member’s passing. She cited federal-level guidance that made cursive optional and said some families view the lack of uniform instruction as creating uneven opportunities across districts. Lempel also submitted a report to district staff prior to speaking.
Board president Mrs. Bitter responded that Sycamore elementary schools teach cursive in third grade and that staff would follow up: “We do teach cursive to our children in third grade, in all of our elementary schools. We do.” Staff later told Lempel the assistant superintendent had looked into the issue and that the district would “do a little bit more of a deep dive” and check with third-grade teachers about instruction level and consistency.
A second speaker, who identified as a parent, said her son learned cursive at Blanche Elementary and raised a separate concern about a proposed revision to an “interrogation and search” policy wording; the parent requested explicit language that any entry by immigration agents be supported by a judicial warrant rather than an administrative warrant. The parent noted that some Ohio districts, including Shaker Heights and Akron, have clarified local policy to restrict access without a valid judge-signed warrant, and she urged Sycamore to adopt similar language to protect students’ rights.
Board members and staff acknowledged both comments. Staff committed to check classroom practice and to report back to the speaker and the board; no policy change was made during the meeting. The public-comment segment concluded without board debate or formal action on either topic.
