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Advocacy group Rising to Learn says board is disregarding employee input; board members respond
Summary
Robert Stenerson of Rising to Learn told the board the district had ignored staff recommendations on school security positions and restricting firearm imagery on clothing; board members disputed a broad characterization that the board routinely rejects staff input.
Robert Stenerson, communications director for Rising to Learn, addressed the board during public comment and said the district had rejected input from employees and advisory groups on multiple matters.
Stenerson cited two examples: first, he said school administrators, teachers and behavior staff recommended additional school security positions to improve student behavior, but the board removed proposed security positions in a last-minute amendment to the 2026 budget; second, he said staff recommended that the dress code prohibit images of firearms on clothing, and that recommendation was opposed by a board member during the July 7 policy meeting.
“Whether the input is received from professional employees or community organizations and individuals, the pattern of disregard for input seems all too blatant,” Stenerson told the board and asked the board to “reverse this trend to comply with its own policies and to make decisions that are in the best interest of all students.” He said Rising to Learn sent written input on July 3 regarding Policy KD, which the board adopted the same day.
Several board members responded. One member said the claim of a “trend” of disregarding staff was “flat out wrong,” noting that most items voted on at the meeting passed overwhelmingly and that the board must sometimes disagree with staff advice. Another board member said she agreed with the substance of the recommendation to prohibit certain images on clothing if administrators and teachers felt it would be disruptive.
The record shows an exchange in which some board members pressed Stenerson for details about Rising to Learn’s advisory board composition and whether former board members were involved. The discussion ended without further action; the board moved on to member comments and other business.
