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Forest Lake board approves advisers for student affinity groups after public comment
Summary
After more than an hour of public testimony by parents, teachers and students, the Forest Lake Area Schools board approved funding for advisers to student affinity clubs during its Feb. 20 meeting.
The Forest Lake Area Schools board on Feb. 20 approved licensed personnel actions that include funding advisers for student affinity groups after a string of public comments from parents, teachers and students urging continued support.
Public commenters told the board the affinity clubs create safe, culturally affirming spaces and boost attendance and student engagement. Mary Beth Higgins, co-adviser for a middle-school BIPOC group, said the clubs allow “space for student voice as well as parent choice” and thanked the board for the district’s support. Jen O’Donnell, an English-language-learner teacher and long-time adviser to the Black Student Union at Forest Lake High School, said three students who addressed the board Jan. 16 felt “unheard” after earlier remarks by board members; O’Donnell asked the board to regard the groups as “celebration, not segregation.”
Several current and former teachers also described how affinity groups provide leadership opportunities, peer support and programming such as cultural showcases. Tim Newcomb, a community member and high-school English teacher, said the clubs align with the district’s strategic plan goals and urged the board not to cut adviser funding: “A vote to defund any of these groups’ advisors is a vote to diminish our strategic learning plan,” he said.
Board members acknowledged the public testimony before bringing the item off the consent agenda. Member Julie Christensen moved to approve item 6.3, licensed personnel; a second was recorded but the transcript did not name the seconder. After further comments by board members expressing thanks to advisers and the community, the motion passed (the board announced “motion carries”). The board’s publicrecord vote tally was not read aloud in the transcript.
The board’s remarks emphasized equitable treatment of all advisor positions and recognized advisers’ extra time; several board members highlighted mental-health and attendance benefits described by speakers. Board members asked that approvals be applied equitably across clubs regardless of content.
The vote followed the meeting’s established public-comment procedures; the chair reminded speakers that comments were noninteractive and limited to three minutes.
Looking ahead, the motion completes the board’s action on item 6.3; the transcript does not show any follow-up assignments or conditions attached to the approvals.
