Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents at Batavia board meeting urge action on bullying, racism and classroom screen time
Summary
Two public commenters demanded answers about bullying, alleged racism, book removals and classroom screen time; one parent urged a bell‑to‑bell screen restriction and leaders acknowledged community frustration and the need for transparency.
Two members of the public used the meeting’s public‑comment period to press the Batavia USD 101 board on school climate, curriculum removals and classroom screen time.
Haley Lam told the board she had heard “heartbreaking and uncomfortable conversations” from parents, teachers and former board members about bullying, racism and suppression at schools and said the board’s silence amounted to compliance. “Your silence is compliance,” Lam said, calling for the student board members and community voices to be heard and asking for answers on novel removals, staff departures and how the district handles Pride and Women’s History Month programming.
Emily Buckholz, a parent of a rising fourth‑grader at HC Storm, said she supports the Distraction‑Free Batavia Advocacy Group and urged the district to adopt a bell‑to‑bell restriction that would reduce multitasking on devices during school hours. Buckholz cited the Surgeon General’s advisory on youth screen use and urged the board to prioritize digital‑citizenship instruction and more pen‑and‑paper learning time at all grade levels.
Board members thanked speakers and asked district staff to continue sharing research and proposed policies. The public comment period was informational; no policy vote took place at the meeting.
