JULY 30, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Students speak out at school board meeting
BY HERB SWETT
For the Keizertimes
Antagonism toward school offi cials
regarding minorities was voiced by a suc-
cession of audience speakers at Tuesday’s
work session of the Salem-Keizer School
Board.
Most speakers were students, but a few
were parents and recent graduates. Not all
focused on minority issues; several of the
earlier speakers commented on problems
involving COVID-19 and the plans for
returning mostly to the usual procedures
with the opening of the next school year.
Anita Brannigan, the fi rst speaker,
urged board members to communicate
more with the public. She is a member of a
group that encourages people to speak up
without being intimidated.
Several commented on masking.
Abigail Eckhart told the board she has a
developmentally delayed son who needs to
see people’s faces to learn. Melissa Phillips,
who has been home schooling her three
children, said parents should be encour-
aged to make mask decisions, because
there is no one-size-fi ts-all answer. She
added that children in Sweden have stayed
healthy without being masked.
Heather Stevenson said she had eight-
year-old twins who will have to repeat the
second grade. She said one has epilepsy
and the other is deaf in one ear.
Lee Morales urged that the school dis-
trict show its curriculum on its website to
enable parents to comment on it.
Then a long succession of speakers,
mostly students, alleged that some school
directors and administrators did not care
about minority students. Board Chair
Osvaldo Avila urged that speakers show
their concerns but be respectful.
Several were unimpressed by his call for
respect. One who identifi ed herself only as
Cindy said, “Some of you act like the chairs
you sit on are thrones.”
After all speakers from the fl oor were
fi nished, Avila said, “Thank you. We’ll take
this up at our next board meeting.”
Other board members were equally
receptive. Maria Hinojos Pressey said the
board should regularly allow lead time
for people to speak from the audience.
Marty Heyen, the only director attending
remotely, said whatever mask policy is
enacted, “50% will be mad.”
Iton Udosenata, the assistant superin-
tendent, then outlined administrative goals
for reopening schools:
• Five-day week.
• Emphasis on academics and social/
emotional needs.
• Ongoing parent engagement and
communication.
• Safety considerations.
• Close cooperation with the Oregon
School Activities Association.
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