PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 14, 2021
Anti-racism demonstrators make
presence known at SKPS meeting
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
A protest outside the Salem-Keizer
Public Schools (SKPS) district office
stole the show at the school board
meeting on Tuesday, May 11.
The demonstration was organized
by youth activist group, Latinos Unidos
Siempre (LUS) — board meetings are
closed to the public and don’t feature
live testimony. Sandra Hernández-
Lomelí, director of LUS, said that the
gathering was an anti-racism demon-
stration in the wake of a May 1 gun
rights rally in Salem and wanted the
board to make a statement denouncing
white supremacy.
“Last week we witnessed the com-
munity be terrorized by white nation-
alist hate groups, such as The Three
Percenters, Proud Boys, and others,”
Hernández-Lomelí said. “This weekend
Salem was not a safe space for BIPOC
(Black, Indigenous and people of color)
and Queer communities. During this
nationalist rally, speakers threatened to
take armed Proud Boys into our school
grounds to replace School Resource
Officers. Vice-chair Danielle Bethell
and chair Satya Chandragiri have the
responsibility to denounce these hate
groups and uphold the equity lens.
They must show the community that
they do not stand with violent hate
groups that threaten the safety of our
Black and Brown students.”
It was ironic that we
were talking about
diversity and inclusion
during parts of the
meeting when the noise
was really loud.
— SATYA CHANDRAGIRI
Chairperson, SKPS board
Members of the Association of
Salem-Keizer Education Supports
Professionals (ASK ESP) were also
present at the demonstration, speaking
out against understaffing and work-
place bullying.
Board members Sherrone Blasi and
Marty Heyen attended the meeting
virtually. Danielle Bethell was not in
attendance.
During the Spotlight on Success
portion of the meeting, air horns and
loud bangs on the glass windows made
the discussion inaudible at times.
Superintendent Christy Perry and the
board attempted to push through the
noise, but there
were
multiple
instances
where
Heyen and Blasi
could not be heard
over their com-
puter microphones
and had to either
write-in a question
they had about an
agenda item or vote
on an action item
using a thumbs up
or thumbs down.
There were many
instances
when
board members and
presenters had to
nearly shout into
their microphone in
order to be heard.
“I am sorry that some of the things
we were discussing weren’t audible
because of the loud noise,” Chandragiri
said. “It was ironic that we were talking
about diversity and inclusion during
parts of the meeting when the noise was
really loud. I am proud of us for staying
focused on what we were supposed to
do. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Chandragiri said that the board
was notified about the demonstration
before the meeting and that the district
provided security for board members.
“We were prepared. I wasn’t wor-
ried about my safety. We had a lot of
systems put in place,” Chandragiri said.
During the meeting, McNary prin-
cipal Erik Jespersen was honored
after being named the Oregon 2021
High School Principal of the Year by
the Oregon Association of Secondary
School
Administrators
(OASSA)
and the Coalition of Oregon School
Administrators (COSA). The board
unanimously approved the vote for
Larry Trott for Willamette Education
Service District Board of Directors,
Zone 5 and approved the sale of the
Rosedale School property in south
Salem.
The board also unanimously
approved the Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Proclamation.
“(Tuesday) was a perfect celebration
of diversity,” Chandragiri said.
SUBSCRIBE
Keizer news in your mailbox
only $35 a year*
Call 503 . 390.1051
keizertimes.com/store
*Rate for inside Marion County
Classified Marketplace
MISCELLANEOUS
DONATE YOUR CAR TO UNITED BREAST CANCER
FOUNDATION! Your donation helps education,
prevention & support programs. FAST FREE PICKUP
- 24 HR RESPONSE - TAX DEDUCTION. 1-855-252-2579.
ONAC
SERVICES
GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is
increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power
outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695
value!) Schedule your FREE in-home assessment
today. Call 1-877-557-1912 Special financing for
qualified customers.
ONAC
The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage
system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the
grid, prepare for power outages and power your
home. Full installation services available. $0 Down
Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation,
quote today. Call 1-844-989-2328.
ONAC
DIVORCE $130. Complete preparation. Includes
children, custody, support, property and bills
division. No court appearances. Divorced
in 1-5 weeks possible. 503-772-5295. www.
paralegalalternatives.com legalalt@msn.com. ONAC
DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast
Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch &
Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote.
FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call
today! 1-866-373-9175.
ONAC
Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by
Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with
the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen
One. Free information kit! Call 855-839-0752.
ONAC
HughesNet Satellite Internet - 25mbps starting at $49.99/
mo! Get More Data FREE Off-Peak Data. FAST download
speeds. WiFi built in! FREE Standard Installation for lease
customers! Limited Time, Call 1-888-849-2601.
ONAC
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the
most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection.
Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off
Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts.
Call 1-855-536-8838.
ONAC
Never Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again!
Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR
SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE.
$200.00 OFF 2 FREE Months! 1-855-814-3266. ONAC
DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/month.
65 Channels. Stream Breaking News, Live Events,
Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract.
No Commitment. CALL 1-833-600-6659.
ONAC
Become a published author! Publications sold at
all major secular & specialty Christian bookstores.
CALL Christian Faith Publishing for your FREE
author submission kit. 1-855-407-5056.
ONAC
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual
Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL
coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-844-239-9335
for details. www.dental50plus.com/256118-0219 ONAC
Wesley Financial Group, LLC. Timeshare Cancellation
Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and
fees cancelled in 2019.
ONAC
LOST & FOUND
Prescription glasses found in parking lot of Ross Dress for
Less at Keizer Station on Monday, May 3. Now being held
in Ross’ lost & found.
0521
NEED TO SELL SOMETHING IN
Classified
Marketplace?
Place an ad starting as low as $15 per week.
CALL: 503. 390.1051 –or– EMAIL: kt@keizertimes.com