Students and community members used public comment at the Dec. 9 board meeting to press the district on equity and environmental staffing.

Student representatives Caroline Dersh (Summit High), Bridal Medina (Mountain View High) and Jack Strykers (Caldera High) updated the board on standards-based grading and instruction work. During public comment, Tessa Musil raised concerns about inequities in South County, including access to foreign-language instruction. Several student commenters — Zoe Mowery (Bend High), Vita Halpern, Simone Halpern and Makayla May — urged the district to fill the advertised sustainability coordinator position and to consider elevating that role to a director-level position to ensure sustained attention.

Board members acknowledged the comments; meeting minutes show the sustainability position remains open and the policy-development process will include feedback from Student Voice. The transcript does not record an immediate staffing decision or a board vote on elevating the position.