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Residents and plaque designer urge board to preserve memorial honoring student
Summary
Community members urged Dayton School District No. 8 to retain a recently placed memorial plaque with a quoted verse, saying it honors a student’s memory and was not intended to promote religion; the board took no formal action during public comment.
Several community members told the Dayton School District No. 8 board during public comment that a recently installed memorial plaque honoring a student should remain in place.
Quinn Johnston, who said she designed and added the plaque in June, told the board the chosen verse was intended as a message of hope and remembrance. "For I know the plans I have for you," she said, adding her goal was "to honor the student’s life and share a message of encouragement." Michael Factor, who spoke from Lafayette, also described the verse as meant to remember the student rather than to promote religion in schools. Benji Hedgecock thanked district administration for maintaining its stance and said the plaque was created to honor a student’s memory.
Board Chair Larry Ringnalda opened the public comment period and reviewed board rules; no formal board motion or policy change on the plaque was recorded during the meeting. Community members framed the item as a memorial and requested the board consider the plaque's intent and the family's wishes rather than removing it. The board did not indicate a formal next step on the plaque within the public portion of the meeting.
