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Parents praise USDB services and raise concern about retaliation after exiting outreach
Summary
Two parents addressed the USDB standing committee: a Jean Messud School of the Deaf PTA president praised USDB and urged board visits; a second parent alleged a teacher was disciplined after her family stopped using USDB outreach and urged anti-retaliation measures.
Two parents spoke during the public-comment period at the USDB standing committee meeting on Nov. 10.
Alyssa Ensign, PTA president and parent of a Jean Messud School of the Deaf freshman, described a long relationship with USDB services and urged board members to visit the school and meet students, families and staff. "USDB is family," Ensign said, describing the school as "language role models" and emphasizing the value of the bimodal bilingual program.
Sarah Erb said her child previously received outreach services and that after her family exited USDB outreach, the assigned teacher who took FMLA leave was disciplined in relation to the family's decision to decline USDB outreach. Erb said she had shared OSHA-recommended anti-retaliation practices with staff and asked the board to consider anti-retaliation safeguards.
Board members thanked both speakers and said the committee will take public comments into account as it reviews governance and policy changes. The allegation of retaliation was not disputed during the public comment period; staff did not offer a substantive response on the record during the comment segment.
What's next: The committee heard the comments and recorded them in the meeting record; staff and board members indicated they would continue to review procedures for outreach, parent choice and staff protections.
