Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public speakers urge gun-violence education and raise concerns about instructional integrity
Summary
Public commenters urged the district to develop educational programming addressing gun violence and raised concerns about teacher morale and instructional quality, citing district report-card statistics and alleging use of 'pink slips' and uncertified hires.
During the public-comment portion of the meeting, two community members addressed the board on safety and instructional concerns.
Joe Purnell urged the district to create a curriculum platform to educate students about gun violence rather than focusing solely on gun-handling safety. He argued public education over time changed behavior on issues like seat belts and smoking and said, “If we educate our youth... our kids shoot, our kids die,” emphasizing the local impact and calling for a coordinated school-family approach.
Allen Bryant Jr. addressed instructional integrity and district performance after reviewing MPS outcomes. He criticized teaching methods and low teacher morale, cited statistics (saying 77% of district schools have report cards of C or below and only two schools received an A), and alleged personnel practices such as issuing 'pink slips' and hiring uncertified teachers. Bryant requested a follow-up meeting with the superintendent to address these concerns.
Board response: The chair noted that public commenters can request follow-up meetings with the superintendent’s office for issues inappropriate for public comment (for example, specific student or employee matters) and thanked both speakers for their remarks. Board members later suggested inviting community partners and PTA resources into committee work on gun-violence prevention.
