Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comments Policy 320 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters urge inclusive language in media-selection policy review, raise staffing and conduct complaints
Summary
During the Jan. 14 public-comment period speakers urged the board to prioritize inclusive language and safeguards as it reconsiders Policy 320, defended and criticized district employees, and alleged workplace and student-behavior problems at specific schools; one commenter called for a board member’s resignation and threatened recall.
Several members of the public addressed the Volusia County School Board during the Jan. 14 meeting, urging the board to revisit the proposed School Board Policy 320 with inclusive language and robust safeguards and raising separate concerns about school staff and student conduct.
Christine Sirier told the board she was glad item 19.01 was pulled and asked that the revised policy use inclusive language and include safeguards to prevent abuse of the review process. "Please prioritize inclusive language. Make sure there's safeguards in place to prevent potential abuse of the system," she said during public comment.
Jean Miley, speaking near the start of public comment, said she was speaking on behalf of "Miss Jessie" and defended how a school employee addressed student behavior; Miley described her own background as a long-time school bus attendant and urged compassion in evaluating staff conduct.
Other speakers raised grievances. Cathy Knowles, a former cafeteria manager, thanked the board for recent raises for transportation staff and urged similar attention for Schoolway Cafe employees, saying the operation has not seen comparable raises. Heather Bendel described a workplace dispute at New Smyrna Beach Middle School, alleging that a principal mistreated her and that she had not received a district response to her emails; she said her children were also struggling and expressed frustration with a lack of follow-up.
Jennifer Kelly criticized School Board member Jessie Thompson for remarks Kelly said Thompson made at a national Moms for Liberty event. Kelly said she believed Thompson had lied at a prior local meeting and called on Thompson to resign from the board. Kelly said she would pursue removal by the governor or a recall process if Thompson did not step down; she listed statutory grounds that she said supported removal and urged immediate action.
All remarks during public comment were presented as the speakers' statements. The board did not take immediate action on the allegations made during the public comment period; some matters raised — including the superintendent's earlier request to pull Policy 320 — were already in the board's agenda for further review.
