Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Students and community urge board to keep student clubs, criticize proposed policy 18-01
Summary
Dozens of students, parents and community members told the Forest Lake school board that proposed policy 18-01 would restrict student-run clubs and remove safe spaces; speakers urged the board to revise or recommit the policy and preserve access for cultural, affinity and interest groups.
Dozens of students, parents and community members told the Forest Lake Board of Education during public comment that proposed policy 18-01, which would change how student interest and affinity clubs operate in district schools, risks removing access to spaces students described as essential for safety, mental health and belonging.
The speakers included current and former students, teachers and community volunteers who attributed the policy rollout to a lack of transparency. “When I finally joined BSU . . . I found people who I could relate to and I really grew as an individual,” said Kathleen O'Awesome, a 2023 Forest Lake High School graduate now attending Howard University, describing how a student affinity group affected her school experience. “If I'm afraid to go to school, I'm not gonna wanna come to school. Simple as that.”
The board heard multiple accounts of clubs that students said…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
