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Residents and educators urge Rio Rancho board to keep classroom ‘safe space’ signage
Summary
Multiple parents, students and educators urged the Rio Rancho Public Schools board to preserve classroom safe-space signs — including rainbow imagery — arguing the markers help at-risk LGBTQ students and teacher autonomy; a state representative asked for a community workshop on the issue.
Dozens of residents, students and district educators used the public-comment period at the Rio Rancho Public Schools board meeting on Oct. 14 to urge the board not to remove rainbow or other identifying imagery from classroom “safe space” signs.
Speakers said the symbols play a concrete role in student safety and mental health. ‘‘Every space should be a safe space for kids,’’ said Elena Maves, a district alum and high-school English teacher, who said she faced slurs and harassment as a student and pointed to teachers who displayed a full-size rainbow flag in class as critical allies. ‘‘You don't create a safe space for all students by removing pride flags from signs,’’ Maves said.
Other commenters described similar experiences and…
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