HCS Homelessness, Traffic Issues Ongoing

HARRISON – The Sept. 11 Harrison Community Schools Board of Education meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by students from Larson Elementary School. The Larson focus continued with a building instructional highlight presented by principal Andrea Andera. She spoke of the upcoming Dot Day which has become an elementary tradition where families visit and focused on what makes each person/family unique. Andera said International Dot Day was created 25 years ago, founded by Peter Reynolds who wrote the story “The Dot.” She also informed of the upcoming monthly family engagement events, i.e., Dot Day, Spooktacular, Holiday Concert, Community Day in January, and March as Reading Month, etc.

She also noted that school dismissals have been completed by 3:20 p.m. daily and voiced satisfaction that 602 kids dismissed at 3:05 and picked up by 3:20 p.m. is “pretty good.”

Andera was enthusiastic as she described the progress of the much-anticipated Larson Library, the space carved out for it, the book sorting being done, and a $5,000 grant for the purchase of books that had been secured by Chad Hathcock, HCS business manager. She also cited an additional $10,000 grant secured by the RESD literacy coach for the purchase of diverse books to be given to a single grade level [yet to be determined].

Another item Andera addressed was the federal homelessness grant which she directs for the district. That grant yielded $36,000 for things for families which are over and above what can be done with regular grant money. The goal is to ensure services are provided to those students eligible for them. Andera said that currently there are 52 students in the district [4%] eligible for homelessness assistance. She said the average for comparable districts is 7% and the hope is that through counselors working with students, more and be identified so they can receive appropriate resources as well.

Under the Consent Agenda, the Board moved to approve meeting minutes of Aug. 14, as well as financial reports for Aug. 1-31. Additionally, the Board also moved to approve: Hilliary Walton as Larson special education paraprofessional; Samuree Driver as GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program) paraprofessional; Todd Palmer, as middle school technology teacher; Brittney Dobbs as Larson special education paraprofessional; Jade Samples as high school special education paraprofessional; Phil Rogers as Schedule B assistant football coach; Lillian Williams as seventh-grade volleyball coach; Susan McCarver as GSRP teacher; and Dawn Evans as high school paraprofessional.

Under the Non-consent Agenda, Superintendent Judy Walton described the second reading of Thrun Board Policy updates, itemizing some of the changes contained. She said the update included some changes due to statutory citation changes, or changes in the law, i.e., changes to the Elliot Larson Civil Rights Act, and also addressed changes to definitions of sexual violence, as well as options recommended or superintendent’s recommendations. Also included were three totally new policies. The Board then moved to approve unanimously the Thrun Policy updates.

Walton also listed resignations, which included preschool teacher Jennifer Ogg, and aides Sydney Thomas and Alexandria Metcalf.

The first visitor to speak in Public Comment was Courtney Smith-Atkins of MDHHS, who provided a brief overview of the Pathways to Potential program, which is in three Harrison schools. A new Pathways to Potential person (Success Coach) has been installed this year in the Harrison Middle School with the purpose of educating about basic needs: housing, food, shelter, clothing and safety. A key indicator for success is attendance, so the Success Coach will be looking hard at getting families what they need in order to get their students to school.

Second to address the Board was Jerry Britton, who again said he was seeking a response from the Board on issues he had raised previously. He reiterated his concern regarding the absence of religion in schools: no Ten Commandments in classrooms, Gideons can’t pass out bibles, etc. This he contrasted with those who support LGBTQ allowed to fly their flag, symbols, etc., adding that he thought that was “counter-cultural for the culture of the school.”

“I think that hurts the culture of the community,” he said. “It’s a conservative community. The school is owned by the community; the teacher’s classroom is a part of the community, not the teacher’s.” He added a comparison with the teacher’s car where they could put what they want on their car, but the classroom is part of community property.

“I don’t understand why one group is allowed leniency,” Britton said. “Any time you support one group, you’re actually stepping on another. I know we have this mindset nowadays that we include everybody – I understand that – but when you include one group in certain areas, you’re stepping on groups in another.”

When he finished by saying he would appreciate a response from the Board as to its position, adding that he was representing pastors, business people – “a whole lot of people he could fill the [board] room with.”

Kendra Durga, board president, informed that as a board in a public meeting, it is not required to respond to public comment.

“But I will say that this is a public school, and we are required, for our funding, to follow the laws of Michigan,” she said. “And much of what we have to do is governed by the laws of Michigan.”

In her Superintendent Report, Walton also responded to Britton’s comments – after he was called back into the room, having departed after Durga’s reply. Walton clarified that she was not speaking for the Board, but that the following is the advice she would give to the Board:

“It’s pretty clear that law around the First Amendment regarding the first two clauses of the First Amendment that deal with religion: that no government shall establish a religion and no government shall prohibit the exercise thereof. There’s a lot of case law in schools about what governs us.” She cited a recent case where a football coach was fired for praying on the field after the game, and some kids had joined. The Supreme Court ruled that firing had been wrong, and the coach had the right to the free exercise of his religion, even though it was a school event and it was on school property – his restriction was that he could not compel students to partake if they didn’t want to.

“So, that’s the line we sort of use around religion,” Walton said. “And we certainly don’t discriminate, religious freedom or to not have a religion, as part of our nondiscrimination clause in the district. Our antidiscrimination clause in our district also specifically names different historically under-represented or marginalized communities. And I think that’s where we sit with some of these other issues. I’m not sure that we view it as one over another; it’s not a zero-sum game for us. It’s trying to be inclusive of marginalized groups – especially groups that we know have a much higher suicide rate, and have much more mental health issues – to be on that inclusive piece.

“We do have a board policy about teachers with political statements, like on a T-shirt. I would say that if I saw the Ten Commandments on a classroom wall, I would try to be curious in the beginning. Having taught World History and World Religions, I had a lot of things up on my wall in my classroom as we explored those pieces.”

She said that was an area where the district continues to look to its attorneys for advice, adding that Britton’s comments and concern were appreciated. He thanked Walton for her response, and again left.

“The goal is to never make someone feel marginalized,” Walton said. “It’s an effort to help groups that are experiencing discrimination in society to not feel marginalized, at least while they’re in school, but to feel welcome.”

Walton thanked Smith-Atkins for her work in partnership with the district, and also spoke of the absence of Kelly Lipovsky former curriculum director, and thanked those staff members who had stepped up to fill in that gap.

“Whenever somebody really valuable leaves, you think you know everything they do,” she said, noting that certainly is not the case.

It was mentioned that, as of that day, district enrollment was 1,255 which is a bit higher than predicted. The majority of that student growth is happening at Larson, which currently has 602 students. It’s crowded, but Walton said it’s a good problem to have.

She also said the Sex Education Advisory Board met once over the summer, and had another meeting scheduled for Sept. 18. The first meeting was primarily introductory and to go over roles and responsibilities; the second meeting will tackle review of the elementary curriculum. Walton clarified that if that body recommends any changes, those would have to be presented to the school board for approval, and that if things were to remain the same there would still be a report provided to the Board.

Walton spoke, too, of new radios/upgrades purchased with school safety money, enabling intra- and inter-building communication, as well as all receiving the same notifications/alerts. She also lauded the recent Athletic Boosters golf outing as a great success, and how good it was to see the high level of community support for the school system and its athletes. That support included nearly $1,000 in personal prize winnings being donated back.

Under Discussion Items, the topic of the roads being blocked at dismissal by early-arriving vehicles was raised. Board member Jim Neff spoke of the problem having been pushed off onto the city, citing the dead grass all along the adjacent streets due to that traffic – and the need to “do something else.” His concern was specifically the accident that is inevitable. Walton said there is a need to have the entire campus evaluated, and a recommendation how to extend the circle in front of Larson further down and/or create another parking lot on the side of Larson.

“The reality is, that building was not meant to have 600 families drop off and pick up there,” she said.

The Board’s consensus was that whatever is settled on will not be easy, or cheap. Walton said that, after the safety radio purchases, the remaining money can go toward the traffic engineering/solution. Unfortunately, a fair number of those students could be riding the buses, and there is thought about having a common bus stop on the north side of town.

Board member Betsy Ulicki voiced a response to Britton’s comments, saying she wanted it to be clear that, as a board, when someone brings something to the Board’s attention, she wants facts.

“So, instead of saying ‘there’s a flag about something’ I need factual information – not something from Facebook or somebody told somebody about it,” she said. “I want to put that out there for anyone. We represent every single child in the district. My personal views have nowhere on this board to be and will not. I think it’s unfortunate we’re given these things that supposedly happened, and it’s very, very often we find out they are not factually based. To make decisions without facts would be silly. So, I would request anyone bringing an issue to the Board, please have first-hand information that was not posted on social media – and bring that knowing that, as a board member, I represent every kid in the district. That’s who I was voted, and it’s not a religious, political or any other type of belief. It is to represent the law and every child that attends Harrison School District.

“So, that’s my response to someone who left after they asked for a response,” Ulicki said. “To anyone else in the future coming, that’s what I would request as a board member – so we can make informed, adequate and safe decisions for our children.”