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[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING IT IS 6:30 P.M.

[Community Input Meeting]

AND WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT.

THE BOARD WELCOMES CITIZENS COMMENTS REGARDING ANY ITEM RELATED TO DISTRICT, BUSINESS OR GOVERNANCE FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS THIS EVENING, WHICH ARE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AND ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER SPEAKERS.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE INFORMATION SHARED IN PUBLIC COMMENT IS ON AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE INFORMATION SHARED BY THE PRESENTER AND SOLELY PROVIDES THE OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER, NOT THE DISTRICT.

COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ONLY, NOT TO OTHER ATTENDEES AND ONLY MADE ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO SPEAK.

TO ENSURE THAT ALL SPEAKERS ARE TREATED EQUALLY AND HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, THE PODIUM MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE TIME FOR EVERY SPEAKER.

EACH SPEAKER SHALL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING THE ITEMS RELATED TO DISTRICT, BUSINESS OR GOVERNANCE.

SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH EACH INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC CONCERN RELATED TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT OR A SPECIFIC STUDENT ISSUE, YOU SHOULD UTILIZE THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN BOARD POLICIES DGBA LOCAL F AND G LOCAL AND GF LOCAL.

EACH GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ALLOWS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO REDRESS GRIEVANCES WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE ARE FIVE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALLISON DARRELL, FOLLOWED BY EILEEN BORKOWSKI.

AND THEN CAT CALLAHAN.

GOOD EVENING, ALLISON LAMBERT DARRELL.

IN THE BEGINNING, GOD MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.

GENESIS FIVE TWO STATES.

FRISCO'S PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW YOUR TRANSGENDER BATHROOMS PLAY OUT FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN FISD SCHOOLS.

MOST PARENTS INCORRECTLY ASSUME THAT TRANSGENDER GIRLS USE THE BOYS BATHROOM STALL TO URINATE.

THAT IS INCORRECT.

SOME GIRLS URINATE IN THE URINALS.

THEY USE A DEVICE TO SIMULATE MALE URINATION PRACTICES CALLED AN STP PACKER.

STP IS AN ACRONYM FOR STAND TO PEE.

HERE ARE PICTURES.

IT IS A SILICONE DEVICE IN THE SHAPE OF A PENIS WITH A RESERVOIR ATTACHMENT.

THE RESERVOIR IS PLACED UNDER THE VAGINA, CATCHES THE URINE, AND THEN THE URINE IS EXCRETED THROUGH THE SILICONE PENIS INTO THE URINAL.

PLEASE PAUSE AND ABSORB THIS.

SOME FISD STUDENTS USE THIS DEVICE AT THE SCHOOL URINALS.

WE HAVE A REPORT FROM A CENTENNIAL FATHER WHO WITNESSED A STUDENT USING AN STP PACKER IN THE BOYS RESTROOM.

LET'S PLAY OUT ONE SCENARIO THAT HIGHLIGHTS THIS.

TOMMY IS A 13 YEAR OLD BOY IN PUBERTY.

HE'S USING THE URINAL IN THE BOYS BATHROOM, AND HIS PRIVATE PARTS ARE EXPOSED.

IN WALKS EMILY.

SHE'S A GIRL, BUT SHE BELIEVES SHE IS A BOY.

FISD GAVE EMILY PERMISSION TO USE THE BOYS RESTROOM.

EMILY APPROACHES A URINAL, PULLS HER STP PECKER OUT OF HER BACKPACK, UNZIPS HER JEANS, INSERTS THE RESERVOIR PART UNDERNEATH HER VAGINA, LEAVING THE PENIS PART OUT AND PROCEEDS TO URINATE IN THE URINAL.

SHE THEN REMOVES THE DEVICE FROM HER PRIVATE PARTS, RINSES IT OUT OF THE SINK, AND PUTS IT BACK IN HER BACKPACK.

HOW DID THIS BIZARRE EXPERIENCE JUST IMPACT TOMMY? HE IS DISTURBED, DESTABILIZED, CONFUSED AND HUMILIATED.

HE HAS WATCHED A GIRL USE HER STP PACKER, POSSIBLY EXPOSING HER PRIVATE PARTS.

A VERY CONFUSED GIRL HAS NOW SEEN HIS PRIVATE PARTS.

IMAGINE THE MANY LEVELS OF TRAUMA TOMMY HAS JUST EXPERIENCED.

THIS ADMINISTRATION AND NOW CERTAIN TRUSTEES ARE FACILITATING THIS PERVERSE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE OF OUR CHILDREN.

JUST AS WITH THE PORNOGRAPHY, YOU ARE SEXUALLY GROOMING OUR CHILDREN.

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS TRULY AN ABOMINATION OF THE HIGHEST DEGREE, AND YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.

THANK YOU. WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR CHILD WITNESSED? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR CHILD WITNESSED? NO. [INAUDIBLE] REPORTED IT TO US.

WELL HAVE HIM REPORT IT TO US DIRECTLY.

I WILL. EILEEN, FOLLOWED BY CAT CALLAHAN.

GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT WALDRIP AND BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS EILEEN [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM THE EDUCATION LEAD FOR AN ORGANIZATION IN COLLIN COUNTY CALLED COUNTY CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM.

A FEW MONTHS BACK, I CAME TO YOUR BOARD MEETING AND I OFFERED YOU ALL A COPY OF THIS BOOK ON THE NAVIGATING THE TRANSGENDER LANDSCAPE SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW PROPHETIC EXCUSE ME IT WAS TO BE DELIVERING THESE TO YOU IN TIME FOR YOU TO REVIEW SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, BECAUSE

[00:05:02]

CLEARLY YOU'RE IN A POSITION THESE DAYS WHERE YOU NEED TO MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS CONCERNING THIS TOPIC AREA.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT.

I HAVE ONLY CHECKED IN WITH ONE OR TWO OF YOU WHO SAID THAT THEY HAD TO GO LOOKING FOR IT.

I DID HAND IT OFF TO THE SECRETARY AND I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THESE.

IF YOU HAVE NOT, I WOULD GLADLY FIND YOU ANOTHER COPY AND AND SEND IT TO YOUR OFFICE.

TODAY I COME TO YOU WITH BRAND NEW RESEARCH, NEW COMPILED RESEARCH FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.

NOW, THIS ORGANIZATION, BASED OUT OF SALT LAKE CITY, DOES IMPECCABLE RESEARCH, AND THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER ANOTHER DOCUMENT WITH COMPILED RESEARCH CALLED THE TRANSGENDER RESEARCH. FIVE THINGS EVERY PARENT AND POLICYMAKERS SHOULD KNOW.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I SHARE THIS WITH YOU.

I ACTUALLY BROUGHT MORE COPIES.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE AND THAT THEY WILL BE APPROPRIATELY DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF YOU.

I HAVE ONE FOR EACH BOARD MEMBER.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT WHEN THE RESEARCH AND THE FACTS ARE RELIED UPON TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS, WE'RE MAKING POLICY DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO HUMAN FLOURISHING AND NOT HUMAN DESTRUCTION.

AND THE POLICY RESEARCH, IN SHORT, SHOWS I'M GOING TO LET YOU READ IT FOR YOURSELF.

BUT ESSENTIALLY.

ALL OF THESE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AND POLICIES THAT WE PASS THAT APPEAR TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS OFTEN ARE JUST A GATEWAY TO MOVE THEM FROM SOCIAL TRANSITIONING TO MEDICAL TRANSITION, WHICH LEADS TO A 19 TIMES SUICIDE RATE, ALL CAUSE MORTALITY FOR TRANSGENDERS 10 YEARS AFTER MEDICAL TRANSITION.

THEY FALL OFF THE CHART, THEY DIE.

WE'RE NOT LEADING STUDENTS TO A POSITIVE PLACE WHEN WE MAKE THESE POLICY DECISIONS.

SO IN THE ACCOMMODATIONS.

SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS RESEARCH WITH YOU.

I DON'T HAVE MY INFORMATION ON HERE, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO EACH OF YOU BY EMAIL FOR A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. AND THE BOOKS THAT YOU LEFT PRIOR, THEY WERE LEFT FOR US AT THE FRONT DESK AND WE PICKED THEM UP.

YES. SO THANK YOU.

CALLAHAN, FOLLOWED BY CARMEN [INAUDIBLE].

MAY I GO. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO YOU BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE ADULT I AM.

ACCOMPLISHED. SUCCESSFUL.

HAVING LIVED IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES CAPABLE OF SPEAKING MULTIPLE LANGUAGES OVER A DECADE AS A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER MYSELF, NEARLY TWO DECADES AS A JOURNALIST AND CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND SEVERAL YEARS A UNION ORGANIZER.

I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE AN EXEMPLARY GRADUATE OF FRISCO HIGH SCHOOL AND FISD.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO, BUT I CAN'T.

INSTEAD, I COME BEFORE YOU AS THE TERRORIZED AND TRAUMATIZED TEENAGER I ONCE WAS.

UNHEARD AND DISRESPECTED BY ADMINISTRATORS AND YOUR PREDECESSORS ON THIS BOARD.

I WILL LET THE ADOLESCENT I WAS SPEAK THROUGH THE ADULT I AM, SO YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES YOUR BATHROOM POLICY AND GENERAL DISREGARD FOR TRANS AND QUEER STUDENTS WILL BRING.

I AM TRANS AND I FOUND OUT IN MY TWENTIES THAT I HAD AN INTERSEX CONDITION LONG BEFORE I HAD THE VOCABULARY TO UNDERSTAND WHO I WAS AND BEFORE THE RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES EXISTED TO HELP ME LEARN THAT VOCABULARY.

IT WAS THE NINETIES IN FRISCO, TEXAS AFTER ALL, MY GENERAL BEHAVIOR AND APPEARANCE WAS CONSISTENTLY SUBJECT TO BULLYING AND RIDICULE OF OTHERS.

IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS LARGELY FAILED TO PROTECT ME, BUT FAR WORSE IS THAT THEY THEMSELVES WERE SOMETIMES THE BULLIES.

BUT EVEN WHEN THEY WERE NOT OUTRIGHT HOSTILE OR VIOLENT, THEIR RESTRICTIONS ON MY EXPRESSION, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MY INTEREST IN BEHAVIOR AND CONCERN TROLLING, AS THE KIDS NOW CALL IT ABOUT MY DIFFERENCES, PAINTED A TARGET ON MY BACK.

IT SIGNALED TO MY PEERS THAT IT WAS ACCEPTABLE TO BULLY ME.

AND I ASSURE YOU THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT THOSE BULLIES HEARD.

AND HERE YOU ARE 25 YEARS LATER, REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES, PAINTING THE SAME TARGET ON THE BACKS OF ANOTHER GENERATION OF CHILDREN. CHILDREN WHO WILL GROW UP TO BE ADULTS WHO MUST UNPACK THE TRAUMA YOU HAVE CAUSED, WHERE FRISCO IS THE LOCATION IN THAT NARRATIVE AND YOU BOARD MEMBERS ARE THE BAD GUYS. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE THE VILLAINS OF THIS STORY.

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE BETTER.

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE BETTER.

YOU CAN'T UNDO WHAT MY FRIENDS AND I EXPERIENCED AT THE HAND OF YOUR PREDECESSORS.

YOU CANNOT ERASE THE DAMAGE DONE TO ME.

THE FEAR I FEEL EVEN STEPPING INTO THIS CHAMBER OR THE GENERAL DISTASTE I HAVE EVERY TIME I THINK OF FRISCO WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.

BUT YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE SURE THE CURRENT FISD STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THESE SAME EXPERIENCES.

TOMORROW MORNING I WILL GET ON A PLANE AND FLY ACROSS THE OCEAN.

MY FATHER HAS PASSED.

THE HOUSE HERE IS SOLD.

AS AN ADULT I CAN DO THAT.

[00:10:01]

BUT THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

MANY FAMILIES, EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE WITH YOUR AGENDA AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN, AS I NOTE MINE DID, WILL NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO MOVE.

I AM PLEADING WITH YOU TO REVERSE THIS ABHORRENT POLICY AND TRULY MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS AS YOU SOMEWHAT HOLLOW WE NOW CLAIM TO DO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I YIELD THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, CARMEN [INAUDIBLE].

AND THEN EESHA VIJAYA, FOLLOWED BY CARSON SASSER.

GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR.

WALDRIP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS ON THE TOPIC OF LGBTQ STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.

THE MESSAGE I'VE TRIED TO CONVEY IS THIS THE DISTRICT'S LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE PEOPLE, THEY ARE SOMEBODIES CHILDREN, AND THEIR WELL-BEING IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE MESSAGE THAT I FEEL SILLY REPEATING IT OVER AND OVER.

BUT IN THE SHORT TIME SINCE I LAST SPOKE TO YOU, WE HAVE BEEN HANDED A VIVID REMINDER OF WHY THAT SIMPLE MESSAGE BEARS REPEATING.

WHEN LGBTQ PEOPLE ARE DEHUMANIZED, WHEN THEY ARE LOOKED AT AS A PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED RATHER THAN AS LIVING, BREATHING PEOPLE, BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM.

INTOLERANCE, HATRED AND FEAR ARE VERY DANGEROUS.

SO HERE I AM AGAIN REMINDING YOU THAT THE DISTRICT'S LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE PEOPLE, THEY ARE SOMEBODIES CHILDREN, AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM.

PLEASE DON'T DO THINGS THAT ADD TO THE INTOLERANCE FOR THEIR EXISTENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AESHA, FOLLOWED BY CARSON AND THEN AVA.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ISHA VILLA, AND I'M A SENIOR AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE RAMPANT ISSUE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN FRISCO ISD.

I'M THE INITIATIVE DIRECTOR AT RUTH PROJECT TEXAS, AN ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF FRISCO STUDENTS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION AND TITLE NINE IMPLEMENTATION.

THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE WE HAVE COLLECTED NUMEROUS TESTIMONIES FOR CASES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

A MAJORITY OF THESE STUDENTS TESTIMONIES DEALT WITH TWO THINGS THE LACK OF PREVENTATIVE PRACTICES FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND THE ISSUE OF TITLE NINE IMPLEMENTATION.

AS STUDENTS, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE IN SCHOOL.

HOWEVER, THE CONSISTENT LACK OF PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AND ADMINISTRATIVE INTERFERENCE REGARDING THESE CASES POSES DIRECT HARM TO FRISCO STUDENTS.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES IN WHICH A STUDENT WAS TO REPORT A CASE OF HARASSMENT, AND THE ADMINISTRATOR THAT HAS RECEIVED THE REPORT DOES LITTLE TO NOTHING TO ASSIST THE VICTIM.

TITLE NINE PROHIBITS SEX BASED DISCRIMINATION IN FEDERALLY FUNDED EDUCATION SPACES, INCLUDING FRISCO ISD.

WE HAVE CONCERNS OF DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE WHICH OCCURS IN A SCHOOL HAS ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS.

IT DOES NOT RESPOND AT ALL TO THE STUDENTS.

STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR ASSAULT HAVE FACED DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE WHEN THEY REPORT A CASE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN SEVERAL INSTANCES REPORTED TO US BY STUDENTS.

THIS IS A LEGAL ISSUE, BUT ALSO AN ISSUE OF FISD FAILING TO ADDRESS A SERIOUS EPIDEMIC OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT STUDENTS FACE THAT CAUSES TRAUMA, PAIN AND COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR EDUCATION. A RECENT FISD GRADUATE WHO EXPERIENCED SEXUAL HARASSMENT STATED, QUOTE, I TOLD THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL THEY SAID WAS GUESS HE PICKS THE PRETTY ONES AND DID NOTHING UNQUOTE.

ANOTHER FORMER STUDENT AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL SAID, QUOTE, I REPORTED A CASE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST A FOOTBALL PLAYER THREE TIMES THE ADMINISTRATION.

THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, UNQUOTE.

THESE TWO TESTIMONIES ARE JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT MANY OTHER FRISCO STUDENTS FACE EVERY DAY AS THEY ENTER THEIR SCHOOLS.

STUDENTS DO NOT FEEL HEARD OR DO NOT FEEL SAFE, DIRECTLY ENABLING PERPETRATORS TO CONTINUE THEIR HARMFUL ACTIONS.

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A LEGAL ISSUE THAT FISD HAS AN IMPERATIVE TO ADDRESS.

WE HOPE THAT YOU, THE SCHOOL BOARD, TAKE THE ACTION TO ALLOW THESE STUDENTS AN EQUAL EDUCATION, ONE THAT ISN'T CONSTANTLY THREATENED BY CASES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WE ASK THAT TITLE NINE IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO FRISCO ISD STUDENTS, BOTH THROUGH EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT AND INCREASED ATTENTION PAID TO HOW TITLE NINE IS IMPLEMENTED IN FISD.

BY TAKING THE ACTION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF YOUR STUDENTS, FISD CAN CONTINUE TO KNOW EVERY STUDENT BY NAME AND NEED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY.

MAY I HAVE JUST A MOMENT TO SPEAK? ISHA, HI. I'M IN STUDENT SERVICES.

THESE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SPEAK AFTER THIS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ERIN. BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING JUST TO SAY I'D LIKE TO HEAR THOSE ISSUES AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT.

BUT, ERIN, TAKE CARE OF IT.

THANK YOU. CARSON FOLLOWED BY AVA.

AND THEN OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS NCHITA.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CARSON STATLER, AND I'M A SENIOR AT LEBANON TRAIL.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT WITHIN FISD SCHOOLS.

[00:15:01]

I WAS IN EIGHTH GRADE WHEN A BOY IN ONE OF MY CLASSES WHO I USED TO BE FRIENDS WITH STARTED TOUCHING MY BUTT EVERY TIME HE WALKED BY ME.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.

BUT THEN I NOTICED HIM TAKING UNNECESSARY ROUTES IN ORDER TO WALK BEHIND ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THAT SITUATION.

NO ONE EVER TOLD ME WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHES YOU.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I DID NOTHING.

FOR MONTHS, I WALKED THE HALLS OF SCHOOL IN FEAR AND CLASSES THAT I HAD WITH HIM.

I COULDN'T FOCUS.

MY MIND WAS STUCK ON HIM, ON WHERE HE WAS SO I COULD TRY TO AVOID HIM.

ON WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS LOOKING AT ME.

MY GRADES WENT DOWN AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN DANGER OF FAILING A CLASS.

MY MENTAL HEALTH DECLINED AND I WAS INTRODUCED TO ANXIETY, WHICH STILL IS YET TO LEAVE ME ALONE AND SELF HARM, I BARELY ESCAPED FROM.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BODY AND FOOD BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE, AND THE VOICES IN MY HEAD SAID THAT IT WAS ALL MY FAULT.

BUT WHAT WAS I DOING? I WAS JUST GOING TO SCHOOL, TRYING TO LEARN WHILE WEARING JEANS AND A T SHIRT IF YOU THINK THAT MATTERS.

THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I OPENED UP TO A COUPLE OF FRIENDS ABOUT IT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING TO THEM TOO.

I WAS HORRIFIED TO FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE WHO I CARED ABOUT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS AS WELL.

THEN WAS WHEN WE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE TOLD ONE OF OUR TEACHERS AND HE TOLD US THAT HE WOULD GIVE THE KID A TALKING TO AND MOVE OUR SEAT IN THE CLASS SO THAT HE WASN'T NEAR ANY OF US.

NOW, BACK THEN, I THOUGHT THIS WAS AMAZING.

I THOUGHT THAT OUR TEACHER HAD DONE SO MUCH FOR US.

BUT AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, I'VE REALIZED THAT THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT WERE HANDED OUT DID NOTHING TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE.

AND THEY DID NOTHING.

THEY DID NOTHING TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON WHAT TO DO IN THESE SITUATIONS.

AND THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE LASTING PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPING MINDS.

THIS NEEDS TO STOP IN ORDER FOR FISD TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT AND KNOW EACH CHILD, EACH STUDENT BY NAME AND BY NEED.

WE'RE ASKING FOR BETTER OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT STARTS WITH TITLE NINE EDUCATION, COMPREHENSIVE TITLE NINE, OFFICE REFORM AT THE LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, AND BETTER ATTENTION PAID TO THE EPIDEMIC OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS AVA SHEPARD, AND I'M AN 11TH GRADER AT FRISCO HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF THE TITLE NINE AND AND EDUCATION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT. EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP TIRED.

I'M TIRED OF GOING TO SCHOOL AND HEARING STUDENTS TALK ABOUT WOMEN WITH DESCRIPTIVE WORDS SUCH AS EASY OR PASSED AROUND.

I'M TIRED OF WATCHING TEACHERS DO NOTHING WHEN MALE STUDENTS CALL FEMININE STUDENTS SEXIST NAMES.

I'M TIRED OF HAVING TEACHERS CONSTANTLY TELL FEMININE STUDENTS THAT THEY NEED TO COVER UP SO THAT THEY AREN'T DISTRACTING MALE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

BUT THE MALE STUDENT ATHLETES PRACTICE WITH NO SHIRTS ON, OR THEY CAN GO AROUND THE SCHOOL AND CUT OFF TANK TOPS.

I'M TIRED OF HEARING MY FELLOW FEMININE STUDENTS DISCUSS HOW THE GUYS THEY GO OUT WITH TOUCH THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY TOLD THEM TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN.

I'M TIRED OF OUR SEX EDUCATION SECTION OF HEALTH CLASS THAT DOESN'T GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT CONSENT AND HOW ANYTHING OTHER THAN YES SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS NO.

I'M TIRED OF SEEING THE SAME MALE STUDENTS WHO SHARE EXPLICIT PHOTOS OF FEMALE STUDENTS, GET TO GO BACK TO CLASS AND ENJOY THE SAME PRIVILEGES THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS.

I'M TIRED OF NOTHING CHANGING, AND THE ANSWER THAT ALL ADMINISTRATORS GIVE TO ANY PROBLEM IS TO JUST USE STOP IT.

I'M TIRED OF THIS DISTRICT CLAIMING TO KNOW EVERY STUDENT BY NAME AND NEED, BUT THERE IS AN EXTREME LACK OF INITIATIVE FROM THE DISTRICT TO BRING AWARENESS FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

STUDENTS ARE DEMANDING BETTER OF FRISCO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE ARE ASKING THAT FISD EDUCATE ALL STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT TITLE NINE IS, WHY IT MATTERS AND WHO THEIR TITLE NINE COORDINATOR IS.

TITLE NINE COORDINATORS SHOULD BE FREE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND BE SUPPORTIVE AND BE A SUPPORTIVE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS.

LAST STUDENT SURVIVORS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED OR DISMISSED BY ANY SCHOOL STAFF, AND THERE SHOULD BE MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT STAFF CAN REFER SURVIVORS TO.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT IS A CONSTANT BURDEN UPON MY PEERS AND I, AND WE ARE DEMANDING ACTION.

IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT ANY STUDENT IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IGNORED WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR HARASSED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

MY NAME IS NISHA CONTI AND I'M A 10TH GRADE STUDENT AT PANTHER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL AND AN INITIATIVE LEADER FOR THE RUTH PROJECT IN FRISCO ISD.

TODAY, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT ALL ACROSS FRISCO ISD AND WORK TO AND TO ENSURE THAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY

[00:20:01]

DEMANDING TITLE NINE ACCESSIBILITY AND REFORM.

AS MY PEERS HAVE STATED, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A PREVALENT AND SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THE FISD SCHOOL BOARD MUST ADDRESS.

IN ORDER TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF INCIDENTS OCCURRING FISD MUST PLACE A TALENTED COORDINATOR AT EACH INDIVIDUAL HIGH SCHOOL, CAMPUS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS AND MAKE AVENUES OF REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.

IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE IF THOSE COORDINATORS ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RATHER THAN ADMINISTRATORS IN ORDER TO MITIGATE ANY SORT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT MAY OCCUR.

ADDITIONALLY, TRAINING FOR STAFF MUST BE GEARED NOT ONLY TOWARDS REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS, BUT ALSO TOWARDS TREATING SURVIVORS WITH COMPASSION AND EMPATHY TO ENSURE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND RESPECTED BY THEIR FELLOW PEERS, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.

IN MANY INCIDENTS, TEACHERS HAVE NOT ONLY FAILED TO REPORT THESE INCIDENTS, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO FURTHER INSTIGATED OR SHAMED SURVIVORS FOR THEIR EXPERIENCES.

MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO US THROUGH AN ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY FORM THAT WE RELEASED ACROSS FISD, SPANNING ACROSS ALL AGE RANGES AND GENDERS.

IN FACT, ONE OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS RECALLED THE FOLLOWING QUOTE A FOOTBALL PLAYER PRESSURED ME INTO HAVING INTERCOURSE WITH HIM, AND WHEN I SAID NO, HE CUSSED ME OUT AND TOLD ME I WAS A SLUT AND THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME.

THEN HE SENT ME AN ILLICIT PHOTO AND I WAS FORCED TO BLOCK HIM.

I TOLD ONE OF MY TEACHERS AND THEY LITERALLY JUST SAID, TEENAGE GUYS ARE STUPID, UNQUOTE.

THIS TESTIMONY WAS FROM AN 11TH GRADE STUDENT FROM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL WHO EXPRESSED HER DISGUST WITH THE FISD FOR POLICIES THAT FURTHER VICTIMIZE SURVIVORS AND CONTINUE TO ENABLE HARASSERS AND ABUSERS.

THE FISD MUST ALSO KEEP STUDENT REPORTS CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE MANY SURVIVORS FACE BACKLASH AND OSTRACIZATION WHEN THEIR PEERS LEARN THAT THEY MADE THE CHOICE TO REPORT THEIR HARASSER OR ABUSER.

REMEMBER THIS? SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS CONSTANTLY SURROUNDING US IN OUR DAILY LIVES, WHETHER WE'D LIKE TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A YOUNG WOMAN WHO HASN'T BEEN SEXUALLY HARASSED OR DOESN'T KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN BY MAKING THESE CHANGES IN POLICY.

FRISCO ISD HAS A POTENTIAL TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF PROTECTING COUNTLESS CHILDREN AND TEENAGE STUDENTS WHO ARE SUBJECTED TO FACING SEXUAL HARASSMENT WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM FISD STAFF AND TITLE NINE SERVICES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. SO THE SURVEY THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ALL DID, IS IT ANONYMOUS OR THE RESPONSES ANONYMOUS? YES, THEY ARE. CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE THAT WITH US SO WE CAN.

AND AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, FEEL FREE TO REMOVE ALL OF THAT CONTENT.

BUT I AND I'M SURE THE REST OF THE BOARD WILL BE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING THE RESPONSES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND IT IS INCREDIBLY CONCERNING.

AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE STATED, CERTAINLY EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM FEELS FOR YOU ALL AND THE WORDS THAT YOU SHARED WITH US TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS NEVER OKAY TO BE HARASSED, JUST NEVER OKAY TO BE FACED WITH ANY TYPE OF ASSAULT.

IT IS NEVER OKAY TO BE RIDICULED AND IT IS NEVER OKAY TO NOT BE HEARD.

AND SO WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING BOLD AND BRAVE SO THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THIS BOARD IS HERE TO DO.

AND SO FOR YOU ALL STANDING UP FOR A COMMUNITY OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE FELT THE HARASSMENT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU.

GIRLS, IF YOU WOULD, IF ALL FOUR OF YOU ARE WILLING TO DO SO, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO VISIT WITH MS. MILLER. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, THERE ARE SOME, AS SHE STATED, THESE ARE SOME SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THESE THINGS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO KNOW SOME SPECIFICS.

IF YOU KNOW SPECIFICS THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US OF SHARE WITH MS. MILLER, THEN WE'LL CERTAINLY INVESTIGATE THEM.

BUT WE HAVE TO KNOW THESE THINGS.

THANK YOU.

ERIN CAN YOU REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD ONCE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO THIS? I CAN. I CAN ALSO SORRY, I CAN ALSO SPEAK MORE TO WE HAVE A TITLE NINE COORDINATOR FOR THE DISTRICT AND STAFF DOES RECEIVE TITLE NINE TRAINING EACH YEAR, BUT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND THEN I'LL GET WITH OUR TITLE NINE COORDINATOR AS WELL TOO.

AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW. I'LL REPORT BACK TO ALL OF YOU ON THAT.

AND CERTAINLY THE ANSWER SHOULD NEVER BE THAT'S TEENAGE BOYS OR THAT'S TEENAGE GIRLS.

THAT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THAT AND ALL OF THE OTHER INCIDENTS TO OUR ATTENTION.

BOARD IT IS 6:54 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.