What measures do you think the district needs to take to ensure the safety of our school community?

I can think of three immediate measures to take. First, we need to improve our transportation operations by hiring bus drivers who work for the district and are accountable to the community they serve. This is a budget decision as well as a safety decision and I hope it is one that can be solved before next school year. 

Second, we need to address bullying as a systemic issue in our district. I have heard from a number of parents who are considering leaving the district–or already have left–because their child or children do not feel safe among their peers. I want to be clear that I do not think that shaming kids or their families for bullying is a solution. We live in a society that has given itself permission to be hateful in exchange for likeability. We have to find solutions to bullying at different levels and in different capacities that are clearly communicated, equitable in enforcement, and that work towards resolution instead of, in MLK’s language, “a negative peace.” 

Third, we need to continue to create policies and practices that protect the most vulnerable of our students, educators, and staff from malicious legislation that threatens access to education, personal health, and co-curricular participation. All three of these measures will require collaboration among the Board, MRHNEA and its members, and the broader ecosystem of MRH.