Parents press board on bullying and dyslexia support; Sunnyside showcases combined arts program

Amber Plank, a Ward 4 resident, used the meeting’s public-comment period to accuse the district of failing to protect her daughter from repeated bullying, saying the school ignored reports and that the family has filed a discrimination charge. "You allowed her to be bullied. You saw the signs. You had the reports, and you did nothing," Plank said. The board’s public-comment guidelines were read at the start of the period and the board listened without entering into debate during the meeting.

Anne Ramseth spoke about her grandson’s diagnosis of dyslexia and said the district had not provided screening or evidence-based reading interventions earlier in his education; she asked the board to consider supports such as Orton–Gillingham or Wilson approaches and noted a prior district arrangement that funded a liaison and a tutor for $2,800 in a recent case.

At the start of the meeting, Sunnyside staff highlighted a combined performing-arts and visual-arts showcase in which every student had an art piece paired to songs performed in the concert. Presenters credited art teacher Rachel Fritz and music teacher Amy Cavanato for coordinating curriculum links and noted the event improved family engagement; staff also thanked custodial and buildings-and-grounds personnel who supported setup and teardown.

The board acknowledged the comments and accepted public testimony. The record shows no in-meeting rebuttal from district leadership to Amber Plank’s accusation; board members directed staff to follow up on issues raised and to encourage parents to complete district forms for program eligibility.