Teachers, parents and residents press Kent School District on classroom space, learning gaps and facility rentals

Multiple community members and staff used the board’s public-comment period to press the district on capacity, instruction and parent access to student records.

Hayden McManus, a teacher at Maker Middle School, asked the board to approve two portable classrooms for Meeker/Maker to address an 81‑student enrollment increase, shared classrooms and disrupted testing logistics. "We have students who are unable to enroll this year at our school because of the lack of teachers and classroom space," McManus said, noting 34 classes are taught in rooms shared between two teachers.

Resident Dan Perkey focused on math proficiency and asked the board to require timed mastery of multiplication tables (through 12×12 in under seven minutes) for grades 3–8 to ensure foundational fluency. "Knowing multiplication tables is fundamental to success in math," Perkey said.

Duncan McManus alleged that a Saturday event at Kent Ridge High School was rented by the district to a group gathering signatures for two measures he described as anti‑trans; he cited a provision in state law (RCW 42.17.555) restricting use of public facilities for ballot-promotion purposes and asked the district to review rental practices.

A video comment from Kelly Coleman raised an inclusive-education concern: he said his son’s IEP is not being followed, that school staff have not provided lesson plans or a designated point of contact, and that he has filed a records request and has a December 8 meeting scheduled.

Students also raised operational concerns: Talon Frye (Kentwood High School) asked why some campus bathrooms are locked — a result, he said, of vandalism and vaping — and student Mackenzie Palmer urged peers to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

What happens next: None of the public comments were enacted as motions; staff acknowledged the requests and indicated follow up would occur through school administration or records procedures.