KHSD meeting sparks passionate public comment on vaccine mandate and LGBTQ + protections | New

As the start of the school year approached, many opposed universal masking in schools from kindergarten to high school, but few supporters agreed with the state’s strict guidelines.

At many of these school board meetings, directions from other states, such as state law protecting LGBTQ + students and the growing attention to diversity and ethnic studies, are also discussed. intense community debate.

For example, in August, in the Bakersfield City School District, several church members filled the hall to protest a state-mandated library available to teachers who wanted to deal with LGBTQ + harassment in the classroom. ..

These community members speaking at the school board meeting are dissatisfied with the school board’s assertion that they must comply with obligations they deem unfavorable.

Radio moderator and former Bakersfield City Council member Terry Maxwell urged the KHSD board on Monday evening to drop state funding instead of following the next immunization mission. He said it would be worth refraining from funding who could provide football, basketball and extracurricular activities if the school district can make its own decisions.

“Is this card stand-alone?” ” He asked. “I have come to the conclusion that you are not.”

There was a sense of anger and frustration among the crowd recently announced against the requirement to vaccinate students. Attendees booed loudly during a brief report from the board of directors of deputy business manager Mike Zulfa, who mentioned the mission announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday.

Board Chairman Jeff Flores has called for early meetings to be quiet.

“We didn’t pass this, it’s the governor, it’s the governor,” Flores said.

At one point, the council took a 10 minute break and left when a community member refused to mess Mike up and abandon him.

Flores called someone to talk about another topic, and Kori Hanners stood up and spoke. He told her that they had moved on to fundraising.

“No, I mean vaccine obligations,” Hanners said. “And I know you don’t care, so I’ll be ready to speak to the audience.” No, I’ll talk.

A short district statement in support of LGBTQ + protection also provided over 45 minutes of (mostly against) commentary with a large crowd of community members, ministers, parents and staff.

After the public comments were completed, administrator Cynthia Brakeman said: “It’s embarrassing to sit here and see this audience.”

“When people with opinions other than you stood up, you intimidated them, commented on them, ridiculed them and made fun of them,” she said. “This is not the first time this has happened.”

Brakeman said he regretted saying nothing when a recent graduate student spoke about LGBTQ + issues at the KHSD meeting in June.

“You’ve been rude,” she told the audience. “You have been rude not only to adults but also to students. It was rude to the students at Khan High School.

Brakeman said he felt the need for a proclamation. It was clear from some actions during the meeting.

“We don’t respect them, so obviously we need a declaration to allow them to join this community,” Brakeman said.

Before a man was asked to sit down, he walked up to the podium and said, “It’s embarrassing to discipline the people who hired you when you made a big mistake at work.“”

There was nothing at the Khan High School District meeting regarding Newsam’s announcement that full FDA approval of the COVID-19 vaccine would be a requirement for students in the next semester. But it sparked a crowd eager to speak. Many speakers said the mission was an exaggeration of the government.

Sammy Wells, a Centennial High School junior who founded Kern County Turningpoint USA, called the vaccine “stupid” and complained that the board members were “irrelevant” and did not hadn’t been to school since Moses. ..

“Parents can choose what their children take, not the government,” he said.

Dewey Compton, a KHSD teacher, said he believed antibody tested immunity could be used as an alternative to vaccine requirements.

Maria Saras said she was not grateful for the pressure placed on her son to get the vaccine. Her son was quarantined when exposed to positive COVID cases during sports, but other vaccinated students did not need to be quarantined. She said these guidelines didn’t make sense and pressured her son to get the vaccine.

Saras also said during his daily presentations at the school that he does not allow students to promote vaccination events.

“It causes divisions in our house,” she said. “I know it’s student run, but it doesn’t do it well.”

In a previous statement from the KHSD board of directors, the district provides a safe school environment where all students, including LGBTQ + students, have equal access and opportunities for the district’s academic, extracurricular and educational support programs. . He says he’s working on what to do.

Additionally, LGBTQ + students, staff and communities enrich classrooms, activities, schools and communities, and LGBTQ + students “are worth learning in a safe, discrimination-free, safe environment. harassment, intimidation, intimidation and harm ”. I did.

Councilors Brakeman, David Manriquez and Janice Graves voted in favor of the proclamation read by Director Brian Bati. Flores voted against. The trustee Brian Bati was not present.

Shannon Boren, founder of Kids First Khan, opposed and called on the board to form a stronger alliance with her parents. The organization has also asked its members to contact the board on this matter.

“The school board needs to focus on academics, and rather than responding to policies of special interest, the overwhelming majority of students with virtual learning face learning losses,” the group said. . The post on the Facebook page says.

Stephanie Hall said her daughter is worried about transgender students changing clothes in girls’ locker rooms. Her daughter felt uncomfortable and was given the opportunity to change the period or change to another area. She felt that transgender students should not be allowed into the girls’ locker rooms.

Wendell Binson of the Canyon Hills Assembly of God supported this view. He also opposed what he called the “Declaration of Celebration of Specific Sexual Behaviors and Cultural Views”. He said the candid statement against bullying would be a stronger statement.

Some staff agreed with the resolution. Monica Mann said she would read it to club members as an advisor to the Gay Straight Alliance.

Olivia Garrison, a KHSD teacher who said she was a member of the LGBTQ + community, was booed when she said LGBTQ + information in her classroom would create a safer environment for LGBTQ + students. She said that these students listen to insults on a daily basis.