Public commenter urges explicit anti‑racism policies as PHM board approves handbook revisions

Tianna Battiste Waddell told the Penn‑Harris‑Madison Board of School Trustees that the district’s proposed revisions to the student and parent handbooks do not go far enough to prevent or respond to racial discrimination.

"When districts like yourself have documented racial concerns, racism should not be hidden inside vague wording," Waddell said during the three‑minute public‑comment period. She cited a March 4 racist incident connected to Penn High School and urged the board to adopt explicit anti‑racism expectations, measurable goals and timelines, public accountability measures and direct support for impacted students and families.

Dr. Short and board members acknowledged the public comment before taking the agenda item. After limited board discussion, a motion to approve the second reading and adopt the revisions to the elementary, middle school, Penn High School, athletic and activities codes of conduct, and related preschool and program handbooks for the 2026–27 school year passed by a recorded vote of 7‑0.

The board’s action approved the handbook language as presented at the meeting. The public speaker said those changes did not explicitly name race or include measurable enforcement steps; she asked the district to make those specifics part of policy rather than leaving them implied. The board’s vote approved the handbook text on the table that evening; the district and community will have to rely on subsequent administrative actions or additional policy proposals if the public’s requested anti‑racism language and timelines are to be added.

Next steps: the district will implement the approved handbook language for the 2026–27 school year. Waddell called for transparent timelines and measurable outcomes; the board did not adopt additional language at the meeting.