Parents and union leaders urge action on school safety and district funding during public comment

During the public-comment period, speakers pressed the Lynchburg City Schools board for action on school safety and advocacy to secure increased funding from the city.

Carl Luce, president of the Lynchburg Education Association, thanked the board for including the LEA in the superintendent-search process and urged the board to "fight for the funding that we need." Luce said the division's proposed budget increases staff wages but falls short of the state average; he asked the board to advocate to city council on behalf of staff and students.

Tayona Wilson, a parent of two district students, addressed a firearm incident at Sandusky Middle School the previous day and urged the board to adopt proactive measures. "We are fortunate that yesterday's events did not become the tragedies that we have all, sadly, become accustomed to," Wilson said. She cited national figures and argued the district cannot rely solely on peer reporting: "The plan cannot be simply to rely on reports from other students ... we cannot rely solely on the bravery of a child. I demand that my daughters, your children, your grandchildren, their children do not become a part of the 338,000. I'm asking for responsibility and accountability."

James Coleman, a former board member, and Carl Hutcherson also spoke about a separate incident involving a changed portrait in the boardroom, calling it vandalism and asking the board to investigate and hold whoever is responsible to account.

Ending: Speakers asked the board to pursue more proactive safety measures at Sandusky and to press city council for funding that will increase staff pay and support services; the board acknowledged the comments and later moved to continue some agenda items to a work session with additional staff present.