PAGE A06, KEIZERTIMES, JANUARY 21, 2022
Salem-Keizer school board approves
proclamation honoring parents and guardians
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Of the Keizertimes
The Salem-Keizer school board
joined with district parents at the Jan.
11 board meeting to adopt a proclama-
tion making January the Parent and
Guardian Engagement in Education
Month.
Parents and school board mem-
bers had worked together for weeks
to shape the January proclamation,
which stated that while November is
typically National Parent Engagement
Month, “the New Year provides us an
opportunity to celebrate and honor
our parents and guardians.”
The proclamation was unani-
mously approved by the seven person
board after a short discussion.
“I’m
super
grateful
this
(proclamation) is here. I’m a parent
and it’s no secret that I’m pretty pas-
sionate about parent activity in our
schools. I also don’t think it’s a secret,
the district as a whole wants parents
and guardians as a whole to partic-
ipate,” said Danielle Bethell, board
director for Keizer’s zone 6.
As part of the proclamation, board
members reaffirmed that “we are com-
mitted to working with all parents and
guardians, families, and community in
collaborative partnership as support-
ive adults to help our children grow
in knowledge and understanding and
reach their full potential.”
In anticipation of the board’s vote,
over a dozen people spoke during pub-
lic comments in favor of the proclama-
tion. Kristi Tomlin, a former teacher
at McNary High School, spoke first in
support of the proclamation.
“I am a trained educator, literacy
expert and school volunteer, but I am
first and foremost the primary educator
of my own children. And I deserve to
be at the decision making table as the
law allows,” Tomlin said during a three
minute statement.
Multiple public speakers also
implored the school board and
superintendent Christy Perry not to
close schools as COVID cases soar in
Oregon and to reverse mask and vac-
cine mandates.
Masks requirements in schools and
vaccine requirements for educators
came from the State of Oregon and
Gov. Kate Brown, not Salem-Keizer
School District leadership.
brainfood
crossword
answers pg A23