Each Thursday, Lowell’s First Look is sharing a Q&A with candidates for the LAS Board of Education. Responses are shared exactly as provided by the candidate with no editing.
Here’s what we asked this week, followed by each candidate’s answer. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
What do you see as the Board of Education’s role, if any, in making students, teachers, and staff feel safe in school?
How do you define a safe school?
There has been some criticism about the display of “safe space” stickers and rainbow flags in school classrooms. District policies currently state that professional staff should “refrain from using position or public property…for partisan political and religious purposes.” Do you think this policy should be expanded to prohibit the display of phrases or symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community?
Jessica Curtis
What do you see as the Board of Education’s role, if any, in making students, teachers, and staff feel safe in school?
The Board of Education plays a vital role in prioritizing the safety of students and staff in schools. The Board’s role in establishing and revising policies and providing necessary funding for resources is critical to ensuring a positive learning environment for our students and a positive working environment for our staff and teachers.
How do you define a safe school?
A safe school is not just about physical security but also involves creating an environment where students, staff, and teachers feel respected and valued. Students need to feel safe to learn, which will improve their attendance, academic success, and emotional well-being. Teachers and staff need to feel secure so they can focus on teaching, which is also a significant factor in teacher retention and a desirable district in which to want to teach. Having safety procedures and practices in place can also ease the minds of parents and the community, fostering stronger relationships and support for the school’s objectives and initiatives.
There has been some criticism about the display of “safe space” stickers and rainbow flags in school classrooms. District policies currently state that professional staff should “refrain from using position or public property…for partisan political and religious purposes.” Do you think this policy should be expanded to prohibit the display of phrases or symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community?
In education, I feel it is imperative to support ALL students with what they need to succeed. We use data to provide support. We do this for students with IEPs, 504s, and low SES. The same practice is applied to LGBTQ. This isn’t about politics or religion. We are a public school tasked with the challenge of educating ALL students.
Brian Krajewski
What do you see as the Board of Education’s role, if any, in making students, teachers, and staff feel safe in school?
The role of the school board is to continue to prioritize safety of our students and staff. Prioritization means, continuously reviewing data and plans with alignment to funding that continuously improves our school safety programs. Reviewing data also means that we understand and communicate out word how our plans involve and rely on the entire community to help us achieve the foundational goal of a safe school.
How do you define a safe school?
A safe school is one that provides physical, mental and social safety to our students and staff.
There has been some criticism about the display of “safe space” stickers and rainbow flags in school classrooms. District policies currently state that professional staff should “refrain from using position or public property…for partisan political and religious purposes.” Do you think this policy should be expanded to prohibit the display of phrases or symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community?
I firmly believe that all of our classrooms are safe spaces and ALL of our teachers, staff and administrator’s are “at their core” committed to the “total safety” of our children. Our teachers and staff chose this noble profession to help educate young minds and they chose our community because it stands out as a great place to live and be a part of.
Laurie Kuna
What do you see as the Board of Education’s role, if any, in making students, teachers, and staff feel safe in school?
The Board’s role in this critical area is to establish policy regarding practices and procedures and to see that those are carried out. It is also incumbent on the Board to establish a district-wide culture that creates a safe learning environment and provides our teachers, staff and administrators with the tools to perpetuate that culture.
When the subject of school safety comes up, people automatically default to making the buildings themselves “hard targets,” and while that is important today, what goes on inside the buildings in terms of “safety” is far more critical.
First, the (to me) less critical “hard target” issue: Since 2012, the district has redone the entrances to all of its buildings to better protect students and staff from intruders. Much of this necessary upgrade has not come from the district’s general fund but has been achieved through various grants and the sinking fund.
And right around 2013, LAS began using a School Resource Officer (SRO) from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. The program has proven so successful that we now have two officers working for the district. They are invaluable as support to administration and staff by:
- Working directly with students by helping counselors and teachers educate on such dangers as on-line and social media safety
- Providing security at athletic contests, meetings and many other district events and being visible within the school community.
- Coordinating with city and state police when a situation warrants.
Second, the “soft target” issues: LAS has Board-approved programs such as DEI, SEL, and PIBS that make a school’s culture more inclusive. It is the Board’s responsibility to assure that these programs are contributing to a safer school environment.
The Board is also responsible for establishing the district’s code of conduct and administering discipline when a student’s actions go beyond the scope of a building administrator’s responsibilities.
How do you define a safe school?
A safe school is a building where each student and staff member feels seen, listened to, cared about and respected. It’s a district where every employee, from bottom to top, feels that what they’re doing is helping make the district the best it can be.
If any LAS student gets up in the morning and doesn’t want to go to class—for whatever reason—then the district has failed that student. If a staff member doesn’t want to come to work, then the district has failed that staff member. No institution in the world is 100% successful—and no school can or will ever meet every student’s academic or emotional needs or every staff member’s needs. However, the reality of imperfection should never translate into an attitude of “We can’t be all things to all people, so let’s just shoot for ‘good enough.’” We must chase perfection in establishing a culture that nurtures and empowers each of its shareholders.
No matter how “successful” a district is—as measured by GPA’s, college-bound students and athletic achievements—those standards are window dressing to the issue of whether or not a student can look back at their time in the district and say they had more positive experiences than negative and that they gained knowledge, confidence, problem-solving skills and social skills that helped them in their everyday lives after high school. If by and large our students can say this, we’re a safe and successful district.
There has been some criticism about the display of “safe space” stickers and rainbow flags in school classrooms. District policies currently state that professional staff should “refrain from using position or public property…for partisan political and religious purposes.” Do you think this policy should be expanded to prohibit the display of phrases or symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community?
Absolutely not. In the first place, I don’t think there are any rainbow flags in any classroom in the district, so that’s not even an issue. Second, this is a PUBLIC school, which means we take every student, regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation or cognitive ability (to name a few) and educate them to the best of our ability. Posting a “safe space” sticker not only signals to LGBTQ+ students, parents and staff that it’s all right to be yourself here, it signals to non-LGBTQ+ students that they’re safe, too. Research proves that straight students in schools that have safe-space stickers are less likely to self-harm, more likely to feel accepted and more likely to feel comfortable, just as their LGBTQ+ classmates do for the same reason.
And symbols such as the rainbow mean different things to different people, regardless of their orientation. To me, rainbows represent Lucky Charms, Skittles, and the promise God made to Noah that He’d never again destroy the Earth by flood. Rainbows represent joy and beauty and the assurance of a better day. If the LGBTQ+ community wants to use rainbows as their symbol, how does that negatively affect me? Rainbows are awesome! Spead the joy.
Sharon Shah
What do you see as the Board of Education’s role, if any, in making students, teachers, and staff feel safe in school?
I believe the Board of Education plays a crucial role in making the entire district feel safe. First and foremost, continuing to prioritizing funding for security measures, update protocols, and provide training is essential to maintain physical safety. Just as important is the promotion of a positive school culture by ensuring that resources are allocated to anti-bullying measures and inclusive environments where all students are given equal opportunities to learn.
Additionally, the Board can play a vital role in improving communication between home and school. Parents need the assurance that their children are safe and will not be indoctrinated. We can provide this sense of security by implementing transparency measures and continually listening to parents’ concerns.
The well-being of our staff is equally crucial, as they are the foundation of our education system. Prioritizing that staff are equipped with the necessary training, support and giving them learning materials will allow them to thrive and support our students.
Ultimately, clear policies and accountability must guide these efforts. Regular assessments and open communication with all stakeholders will ensure that the district remains a safe and supportive environment for all.
How do you define a safe school?
A truly safe school is one where both external and internal factors that could cause harm are effectively addressed. As a district, we must continue to foster a neutral learning environment that allows children to feel safe, be expressive, and be accepted for their differences or anything that sets them apart. This includes providing resources beyond just academic needs, creating a nurturing and caring space.
In such a school, parents are engaged partners, with open communication and transparency, building trust and collaboration in their child’s educational journey. Additionally, the well-being of staff is prioritized, ensuring that teachers and support staff are not only well-equipped to deliver high-quality instruction, but are also supported in their personal health and professional growth.
There has been some criticism about the display of “safe space” stickers and rainbow flags in school classrooms. District policies currently state that professional staff should “refrain from using position or public property…for partisan political and religious purposes.” Do you think this policy should be expanded to prohibit the display of phrases or symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community?
All students should be welcomed with a single, unified sticker at the entrance that signifies school is a safe place for everyone to learn. This approach avoids singling out specific groups because every student deserves to feel safe at school. I’ve heard feedback from students in the LGBTQ+ community expressing that they don’t feel comfortable in classrooms without a sticker on the door. I believe in consistency and fairness for any initiatives that could single out or exclude students.
Annie McMahon Whitlock
What do you see as the Board of Education’s role, if any, in making students, teachers, and staff feel safe in school?
I believe that the primary function of a Board of Education is to ensure the school system is a place for learning, and “feeling safe” at school is essential for learning. There has been a tremendous amount of research that shows that students need to feel safe to be able to learn, parents need to be confident that their children are safe at school, and educators need a safe place to work so they can do their jobs effectively. I also believe the board has a responsibility to the community at large. It’s important for a district to acknowledge, understand, and attempt to address systemic issues in the community that impact physical and emotional safety, such as poverty, homelessness, etc. The Board should be striving toward inclusion, even if it is difficult.
How do you define a safe school?
A safe school prioritizes students’ physical safety and mental well-being. Students that don’t have their physical and mental needs met cannot learn to their full potential. Being “safe” at school means that children are protected by proper security measures, fed when they are hungry, have access to social workers and counselors, and are shown that they are welcomed into the school as part of the community exactly as who they are.
There has been some criticism about the display of “safe space” stickers and rainbow flags in school classrooms. District policies currently state that professional staff should “refrain from using position or public property…for partisan political and religious purposes.” Do you think this policy should be expanded to prohibit the display of phrases or symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community?
No, absolutely not. LGBTQ+ students attend Lowell Area Schools, and therefore deserve to have a safe place to learn, which includes the school/district community welcoming them exactly as they are. LGBTQ+ students are more likely to feel unsafe in school, reporting higher incidents of bullying and harassment and experiencing negative physical and mental health outcomes as a result (Russell et al., 2021). Outward displays of support for LGBTQ+ students, where they can see which adults they can come to about issues of bullying or mental health without fear of judgement, have been around for decades so there is a lot of research on their benefits. This research shows that safe space stickers and pride flags positively contribute to learning by making school a safer place for LGBTQ+ students, mentally and physically (Evans, 2002; Katz et al., 2016; Kosciw et al., 2020). We should always be striving to make Lowell Area Schools a more inclusive place, not prohibiting things that we know would aid in that mission.
Unfortunately, the rainbow symbol has become politicized to the point where many people walking into a place where it is displayed feel marginalized and left out.
By having a rainbow symbol in public classrooms, you create an inclusive environment for a select number of people, and an exclusive environment for everyone else.
I agree
Shah: “Parents need the assurance that their children are safe and will not be indoctrinated. We can provide this sense of security by implementing transparency measures and continually listening to parents’ concerns.”
Indoctrinated how, exactly? Throwing in a dog-whistle word without a shred of evidence or a concrete example — see also ‘transparency’ — is yet another reason Shah is not in any way qualified or prepared to help lead our, or any, school district. We voters want examples, as the other candidates provide here and elsewhere, that they are fully aware of concrete issues applicable to OUR district, not vague talking points thrown around by national talking heads. Further, any parent who brings up the same issue every BoE meeting over years and just doesn’t like the answer does not have the right to steal time, attention and funds from our students.
As a person of faith in a public school, I felt alone and afraid to share my faith. I feared being bullied and unfriended if I did. If I had attended a school system that displayed safe space stickers, I would have felt more alone and isolated than I already felt.
Please ask the candidates if they would support a “Faith” sticker for students of faith to know they are not alone. If not why and what is the difference?