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Community speakers urge board to keep students at center, strengthen disability inclusion
Summary
Three community speakers — a CAPES/PFLAG representative, a resident and teacher-alumna, and a disability advocate — urged the board to prioritize student belonging and expand disability history and awareness instruction in K–12 curricula.
During the public-comment portion of the Aug. 4 meeting, community members asked the board to center students in every policy decision and to strengthen inclusion efforts districtwide. Rachel Hayes, speaking for CAPES and PFLAG Plymouth-Canton, urged the board to ask "What is best for students?" and to prioritize safety, belonging and transparent governance.
Michelle Mastakis, a Canton resident and CAPES/PFLAG member, said policies that protect transgender and gender-nonconforming students have been lifesaving for some and urged continued commitment to those protections. Latice Jones, a Canton resident and disability advocate who identified multiple organizational roles, asked the district to expand disability history and awareness in K–12 instruction and invited a district representative to attend a Lincolnshire Village Tenant Association meeting on Aug. 21 to discuss community concerns.
Board members thanked the speakers and said administration would follow up on comments requiring additional action.
