Parent criticizes proposed peer‑led 'Hope Squad,' warns board about bullying risks

A Red Wing parent urged the school board to reject or more carefully vet a proposed peer‑led crisis‑response program during public comment, saying past incidents and local controversy make the approach risky for vulnerable students.

Amber Plank told the board she had been contacted by numerous families about bullying incidents in the district and argued that placing responsibility for crisis identification and referral with students is inappropriate. “That is not prevention,” Plank said. “That is an environment right for targeting, retaliation, and misuse.” She alleged that some people supporting the program have previously advocated removing transgender students from sports and have taken actions Plank described as harmful; the speaker said she would not name individuals during the meeting but asserted that petitions and other public actions exist.

Plank also raised concerns that the program could replace trained, paid mental‑health professionals with untrained children: “It is asking untrained children to shoulder the responsibility of mental health triage while adults in charge … want to take a victory lap for creating a Hope Squad,” she said. She urged the board to consider the district’s record on bullying when evaluating any peer‑support program.

Board members briefly cut off Plank when she continued to reference specific incidents and explained the public‑comment rules that prohibit naming individual students, staff or administrators. The board did not take action on the Hope Squad proposal at the meeting; the comment was recorded as public input for future consideration.

The transcript does not identify any direct response from program proponents during the meeting. No formal vote or policy change related to a Hope Squad program occurred at this session.