[Community Input Meeting on April 28, 2025.]
[00:00:08]
WE HAVE SIX TRUSTEES PRESENT, AND TONIGHT'S ONLY AGENDA ITEM IS COMMUNICATION TO AND FROM THE BOARD, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENTS. MR. HILL. GOOD EVENING.THE BOARD WELCOMES 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 NOT 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 OTHER ATTENDEES, AND ONLY MADE ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO SPEAK.
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 DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN BOARD POLICIES DGA, 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'S 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.
THANK YOU, MR. HILL. TONIGHT WE HAVE SEVEN SPEAKERS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN AS MR. HILL SHARED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL YOU IN THE ORDER YOU SIGNED UP, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH LYNN CALAMARIS, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS A [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD EVENING. I HAVE TWO STUDENTS AT HOSP ELEMENTARY.
I'M HERE REGARDING THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT HOSP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON MARCH 27TH.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, A BULLET FLEW PAST KIDS ON A PLAYGROUND, THROUGH AN OCCUPIED CLASSROOM WINDOW AND HIT A WHITEBOARD WALL, JUST STEPS WHERE INSTRUCTION WAS HAPPENING. WELL, I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY SEE THIS AS A FRISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT PROBLEM.
I DISAGREE. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS VOTED ON TO THIS BOARD TO HELP KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE IN SCHOOLS.
WHY ARE YOU NOT ASKING THESE QUESTIONS? I UNDERSTAND YOU HOLD NO LEGAL JURISDICTION.
HAVE ANY OF YOU READ THE POLICE REPORT REGARDING THE ACTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE ON MARCH 27TH? I HAVE. WHERE OR IF YOU HAVE, WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE IF YOU HAVEN'T? I'M NOT SURPRISED, BUT I SUGGEST YOU DO. IT'S A GOOD READ AND I HAVE COPIES.
JUST A FEW QUESTIONS I PONDER AT 3AM WHEN I CAN'T SLEEP.
ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THIS BOGUS REPORT.
WHY NO 911 CALL? DOES SHE EVER GUN BACK? IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD AN INTRUDER IN YOUR HOUSE, WOULD YOU STAY IN THE HOUSE? WOULD YOU CALL YOUR BFF? WOULD YOU CALL YOUR OLD BOSS? WOULD YOU CALL YOUR SPOUSE? NO. NO, YOU WOULD NOT. WAS SHE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE STATION? GIVEN SHE MADE ZERO ATTEMPT TO LET THE POLICE KNOW WHAT SHE HAD DONE? WHERE WAS HER HUSBAND? DID HE COME HOME? HOW CAN SHE NOT BE CHARGED WITH PUBLIC ENDANGERMENT? WOULD A BULLET FLYING INTO THIS BUILDING BE CONSIDERED AN ACCIDENT? HOW ABOUT YOUR HOME OR AT A PUBLIC PARK? HOW ABOUT ALL THE RESOURCES USED IN THE MONEY SPENT? DO THEY NOT HAVE TO BE PAID BACK? THEY HAD TO FIND HER BY DOOR KNOCKING.
AN INTRUDER WAS IN THE HOUSE PLAYING MUSIC, WHAT? THE FACT THAT THE POLICE BELIEVE THIS IS BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION.
I DIDN'T GO TO THE ACADEMY, BUT I DO HAVE COMMON SENSE.
IT IS NOT ALARMING. SHE HELD A 30 MINUTE PHONE CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND AFTER ACCIDENTALLY FIRING A SHOT INTO AN EMPTY ROOM FACING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FULL OF CHILDREN. BUT YET AGAIN FAILED TO CALL THE POLICE, KNOWING SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR DEAD.
OUR KIDS HAD AN EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR THE SOLAR ECLIPSE, BUT YOU CARRY ON SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, MARCH 28TH, NOT THINKING ABOUT THE TRAUMA. SOME STAFF, STUDENTS AND PARENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH.
IN WHAT WORLD DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? I COME HERE TO BEG YOU TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS, EVEN IF IT MAY TAINT THE IMAGE OF FRISCO AND FRISCO SCHOOLS.
[00:05:03]
CAN YOU SHARE HOW THIS WOMAN'S POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACTIONS DID NOT HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCES? THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE THOMAS A. FOLLOWED BY DONITA GRIMES.MY FOURTH GRADER WAS IN THE WING LESS THAN 50FT AWAY FROM THE BULLET.
BASICALLY CLOSER THAN COREY OVER THERE. HI, COREY.
AND I CAN FEEL DISTRESSED ABOUT THAT. I MEAN, WHEN I TALK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES, BY THE WAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT SIMPLE HANDLING OF A GUN. I'VE BEEN IN A MILITARY SERVICE FOR A YEAR.
WE CAN ALSO BE DISTRACTED, BUT I CAN ALSO BE UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO FACTS IN THE POLICE REPORT ABOUT HOW MANY KIDS AND HOW MANY TEACHERS OR STAFF WERE IN THE LINE OF FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY NEGLECTED IN THE REPORT.
I THINK IT'S A QUITE IMPORTANT FACT. LUCKILY, OF COURSE, NO ONE DIED.
WE ALL KNOW THAT. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOWS A LOT OF COMPASSION, AND I ALSO DON'T THINK IT SHOWS GENUINE CARE.
BUT MOST OF ALL, I LACK LEADERSHIP. I HAVE LED A VERY IMPORTANT MISSION CRITICAL OPERATIONS NATIONWIDE AND IN THE NORTH AMERICA, AND WITH MY EXPERIENCE HANDLING A CRISIS SHOULD BE THAT YOU TAKE THE LEAD, YOU TAKE CHARGE.
YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE MISSION. YOU DON'T FIND EXCUSES.
YOU DON'T POINT TO OTHERS. YOU DON'T BECOME THE MESSENGER.
AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IN A CRISIS IS THAT YOU ASK FOR HELP.
I'M PROBABLY MISSING A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED TO.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE COMMUNICATION DOESN'T SHOW THIS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE FACTS ABOUT THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, PLEASE SHARE THEM.
BUT BE SPECIFIC. DON'T USE GENERIC OR COMFORTING STATEMENTS.
I GET THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T REMOVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
MY FINAL WORDS IS JUST TO GIVE ME SOME HOPE AND CONFIDENCE.
I'M ACTUALLY QUESTIONING IF WE SHOULD STAY AND LIVE HERE IN FRISCO AS A FAMILY.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE THERE ARE GUNS IN PEOPLE'S HOMES.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEXAS LAWS. IT'S ACTUALLY BECAUSE I LACK LEADERSHIP.
I WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPENING HERE, AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO OFFER HELP.
THANK YOU. JUANITA GRIMES, FOLLOWED BY ALEX GOMEZ. GOOD EVENING. I'M SORRY. GOOD EVENING.
I'M ALSO AN ATTORNEY AND A FORMER PROSECUTOR WITH TRAVIS AND COLLIN COUNTIES.
I'VE BEEN AN ATTORNEY FOR 30 YEARS AND WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 34 OF THOSE YEARS.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN PORTRAYED AND HOW SECURITY ISSUES ARE BEING IGNORED WITH REGARD TO STUDENT AND EDUCATOR EDUCATOR SAFETY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NEWS REPORTS THAT SECURITY MEASURES WERE CHANGED AFTER THE FATAL STABBING OF AUSTIN METCALF ON APRIL 3RD OF 2025 AT THE TRACK MEET THE DISTRICT TRACK MEET.
IT WAS THEN HELD THE FOLLOWING MONDAY WITH CHANGES IN SECURITY PROTOCOL FOR THE ATHLETES.
SO THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, OR WHETHER THESE ARE PERMANENT POLICIES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR FISD ATHLETES AND IF SO, WHEN WILL THAT BE ANNOUNCED? I'M THE PARENT OF AN ATHLETE AND THERE'S BEEN NO OUTREACH FOR ALL SPORTS, PARENTS ENGAGED IN ALL SPORTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
[00:10:09]
WE HAVE NO USE OF LOCKERS FOR KIDS OR STUDENTS.NO CLEAR BACKPACKS. THERE'S NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT STUDENTS HAVE ON THEIR PERSON DURING THE DAY.
THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR DRUG DOGS, THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SEARCHES OF LOCKERS.
BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CONCERN FOR WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND LOCKED DOORS DURING THE DAY.
SECONDLY, THE VENUE OF KIRKENDALL AND ITS USE IN IN FUTURE USE.
LIKE MANY PARENTS, I WAS STUNNED TO LEARN THAT A RACE BASED PROTEST WAS PUBLICIZED AS TAKING PLACE AT KIRKENDALL, THE LOCATION OF THE MURDER. I KNEW BECAUSE I'M FRIENDS WITH THE FAMILY.
MY CHILD WENT TO ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH AUSTIN THAT IT WOULD NOT BE THAT FAMILY'S DESIRE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD AS A POSTER CHILD IN A PROTECT WHITE AMERICANS PEACEFUL PROTEST. I UNDERSTAND THAT SCHOOL FACILITIES AND PROPERTY CAN BE USED BY ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT WASN'T AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS NOT AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS USING THE AREA APPROPRIATELY.
SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO MADE THE DECISION TO GRANT USE OF THE AREA.
THANK YOU. SURE. NEXT WE WILL HAVE ALEX GOMEZ, FOLLOWED BY V PATEL. THANK YOU ALL. I APOLOGIZE, I'M SUPER CASUAL TODAY.
I HAVE A BASEBALL GAME TO GET TO AFTER THIS. SO I ALSO HAVE THE CHILDREN WITH ME.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITIONS. THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE, THE RIDICULE YOU RECEIVE, OR THE OBSTACLES YOU GUYS FACE ON A DAILY BASIS RELATED TO YOUR POSITIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, MY BACKGROUND IS ALSO IN EDUCATION.
I HAVE A POST-BACCALAUREATE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION, A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION, AND I WORKED AS A TEACHER AND A COACH FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. SO I FULLY EMPATHIZE WITH YOUR POSITIONS.
ALL OF THAT ASIDE, MY FAMILY AND I ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE FRISCO COMMUNITY, EVEN AFTER ONLY MOVING HERE LAST SPRING FROM FRISCO BASEBALL SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION FRISCO FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WE HAVE FOUR KIDS, SO WE'RE AROUND A LOT.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY OLDEST, WHO ATTENDS STALEY.
ON NOVEMBER 7TH. WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MIKE THAT SAID, I QUOTE, I WANT TO CONFIRM WITH OUR STALEY COMMUNITY THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT STALEY IN THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. GREAT.
THAT WAS WONDERFUL NEWS. THEN IT WASN'T UNTIL MARCH OF 2025 THAT WE EVEN FOUND OUT STALEY WOULD POSSIBLY CLOSE THE TRANSFER WINDOW, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ONLY AVAILABLE TO IN-DISTRICT TRANSFERS FROM DECEMBER TO JANUARY, HAD ALREADY CLOSED THE INFORMATION THAT WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT IN REGARDING THE OVERALL HEALTH AND STATUS OF STALEY CAMPUS WAS SHOCKING, TO SAY THE LEAST.
I KNEW IT WAS BAD, MAYBE OLD, BUT IT SHED LIGHT ON SOME UNACCEPTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
52 YEAR OLD COPPER PLUMBING WHOSE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 50 YEARS.
ANY OF THESE BY THEMSELVES WOULD BE AN ISSUE, BUT COMBINED, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE EMOTIONAL TIES THAT MANY OF THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HAVE.
I LISTENED TO THE MEETING. I EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE PARENTS VERY MUCH WHO HAVE THOSE EMOTIONAL TIES.
MY DAUGHTER GETS STRAIGHT A'S. SHE PARTICIPATES IN THEATER.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEGUN TO QUESTION THE DECISIONS.
MY ASK OF YOU TODAY IS TO OPEN ANOTHER TRANSFER WINDOW.
WE DID NOT AGREE TO 50% OF THE STAFF LEAVING AND HAVING TO BE REHIRED.
WE DID NOT AGREE TO A SECOND DEMOGRAPHER. THE ADDITIONAL 5 TO 6 WEEKS TO MAKE THIS DECISION, OR THE $55,000 IT'S COSTING. MY DAUGHTER DID NOT WORK TIRELESSLY TO TRY OUT AND WORK THIS HARD, ONLY TO BE GIVEN SECOND HAND UNIFORMS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ORDERING NEW ONES ANYMORE.
YES, YOU KEPT THE SCHOOL OPEN, BUT AT WHAT COST? IN WHAT CONDITION AND FOR HOW LONG AT THIS POINT.
[00:15:03]
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE V. PATEL, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA WOLFF.HI. CAN YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME FOR US? [INAUDIBLE] P ATEL.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] PATEL AND I AM IN THIRD GRADE AT PURIFOY ELEMENTARY AND I HAVE COME TO THIS BOARD MEETING FOR TWO THINGS. FIRST, THEY ARE CUTTING OFF SKY RANCH AND A LOT OF FOURTH GRADERS AND BELOW HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR CAMP FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY JUST STOPPED CAMP. MY SISTER WENT TO CAMP AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, SHE TOLD US ALL ABOUT IT AND THE CABIN FRIENDS TO HORSEBACK RIDING AND CANOEING. IT WAS ALSO FUN FOR HER, BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT.
SECOND, THEY ARE ALSO CUTTING LONE STAR CHALLENGE.
IT IS MAKING A LOT OF THIRD GRADERS UNHAPPY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.
PARENTS AND KIDS ARE VERY SAD BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO JOIN LONE STAR CHALLENGE IN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE, BECAUSE THEY ARE CUTTING IT OFF. I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE THE SECOND GRADE TO PARTICIPATE TO PARTICIPATE IN LONE STAR CHALLENGE, AND NOW THEY ARE JUST STOPPING IT. THEY WON'T EVEN TELL US WHY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE CHRISTINA WOLFE, FOLLOWED BY P [INAUDIBLE]. HEY, I AM HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT HOW THE ENROLLMENT NUMBER IN FRISCO IS DECLINING AND WE CANNOT BUILD A NEW STALEY AND THAT OTHER SCHOOLS MAY HAVE TO CLOSE IN THE FUTURE. SO I WANT TO ASK THE DISTRICT, IS THERE A MORATORIUM ON BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS? IF SO, FOR HOW LONG? AND ARE THERE CURRENTLY ANY PLANS TO BUILD ANY NEW SCHOOLS? IF SO, WHAT GRADES WOULD THEY SERVE? WHAT AREA OF TOWN AND WHEN WOULD THEY BE BUILT? ANOTHER COMMENT AT THE BOARD MEETING WAS THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO STALEY, GIVEN THE NEW SCHOOL OPTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS AT THE STATE LEVELS.
THE CLOSEST PRIVATE SCHOOL IS $17,000 A YEAR.
EVEN WITH A $10,000 VOUCHER, THAT'S 7000 PER STUDENT BEFORE FEES AND OTHER COSTS.
THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS ALREADY VOICED FOR REZONING. STALEY AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE SUBSIDIZED MEALS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ALMOST 46% OF STALEY STUDENTS UTILIZE.
SO I DON'T FORESEE HOW FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING STALEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL.
GETTING A SECOND OPINION. I APPRECIATE MR. HILL'S REQUEST FOR A SECOND OPINION AND MR. MADDOX'S FINANCIAL CONCERN ABOUT THE FUNDING.
BUT MY QUESTIONS ARE. WHY? WHAT WAS THE REASON GIVEN FROM THE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP THAT STALEY WAS NO LONGER JUSTIFIED? NOT JUST THE NUMBERS WEREN'T THERE, BUT, LIKE, WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL REASON? WERE NUMBERED ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AT ANY OTHER SCHOOLS CHANGED OR JUST STALEY? WHEN WAS THE DISTRICT NOTIFIED? WHAT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS WERE USED TO JUSTIFY BUILDING A NEW STALEY FOR 1000 STUDENT CAPACITY, INSTEAD OF THE 600 CAPACITY THEY WERE AT? AND WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR NOT GETTING A SECOND OPINION MONTHS AGO? IF THIS WAS YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR CONSULTANT SAID BUSINESS IS GOOD AND YOU KNOW YOU NEED A NEW BUILDING FOR YOUR 600 EMPLOYEES, AND THEN THEY COME BACK AND SAY, ACTUALLY, BUSINESS IS GOOD WHEN YOU GET THAT NEW BUILDING, MAKE IT BIGGER FOR 1000.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GO FROM THAT. SO IF THAT WAS YOUR BUSINESS, YOU WOULDN'T JUST BE LIKE, WELL, OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL SHUT IT DOWN. YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A SECOND OPINION. EVEN WITH AN ADDITIONAL COST.
SO I'VE LIVED IN FRISCO SINCE 2011. I HAVE VOTED YES ON EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL BOND.
I'VE EVEN VOTED AGAINST LOWERING PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT NOW I'M STRUGGLING. BACK IN 2018, I VOTED YES FOR A BOND THAT PASSED AND THE FUNDS WERE NOT USED AS OUTLINED THIS PAST YEAR, I VOTED YES. THE BOND DIDN'T PASS, WHICH HAPPENS, BUT THEN WE WERE BASICALLY TOLD THE BOND WAS FOR A BUILDING WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY NEED TO FUND. SO THIS MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR INFORMED VOTERS TO VOTE YES ON A FUTURE SCHOOL BONDS.
AND WE ALREADY HAVE A VOCAL GROUP OPPOSING ANY SCHOOL BONDS AT ALL.
SO IF STALEY CLOSES AND I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR BONDS FOR ANY NEW SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY IN NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AREAS, IF YOU CAN CLOSE STALEY AND BUST THESE KIDS TO OTHER SCHOOLS WITHOUT BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL FOR THEM.
YOU CAN BUS KIDS FROM NEW COMMUNITIES TO EXISTING FRISCO ISD SCHOOLS.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT. I KNOW THAT THIS BOARD DIDN'T GET US TO THIS POINT, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THE DISTRICT DOES, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING IS P KONA.
[00:20:12]
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] KONA AND I'M A JUNIOR AT FRISCO HIGH SCHOOL.AS A STUDENT JOURNALIST, I RECENTLY REVIEWED OUR SCHOOL AND DISTRICT HANDBOOK, SPECIFICALLY BOARD POLICY FOR LOCAL AND BOARD POLICY FMA LEGAL, AND I'M CONCERNED BY OUR DISTRICT'S EXISTING SCHOOL SPONSORED MEDIA POLICY THAT I FOUND.
RIGHT NOW, THIS POLICY DOES NOT PROTECT STUDENT JOURNALISTS.
UNDER IT, MY FELLOW STUDENT JOURNALISTS AND I WORK WITH CONSTANT FEAR THAT OUR WELL RESEARCHED, ETHICAL AND HONEST REPORTING COULD BE CENSORED AT ANY TIME.
THIS POLICY SUPPRESSES FREE SPEECH, UNDERMINES JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY, AND HARMS STUDENT LEARNING.
STUDENT JOURNALISTS, DESPITE BEING SCHOOL SPONSORED, SHOULD NOT LOSE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. ALTHOUGH HAZELWOOD VERSUS COAL MINER ALLOWED FOR SOME ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OVER SCHOOL SPONSORED MEDIA, IT SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT ONE THAT MANY DISTRICTS TODAY ARE MOVING AWAY FROM BY ADOPTING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENT JOURNALISM.
OUR GOAL AS STUDENT JOURNALISTS IS NOT TO ATTACK OR SPREAD MISINFORMATION.
THIS IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN ADOPTING A NEW POLICY, IN LINE WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT PROTECTS THIS PRESS FREEDOM OF STUDENT JOURNALISTS AND ALLOWS US TO WRITE WITHOUT CENSORSHIP, EXCEPT IN CIRCUMSTANCES IF THE MEDIA IS LIBELOUS OR SLANDEROUS, CONTAINS AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PRIVACY, VIOLATES STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, OR INCITES STUDENTS TO DISRUPT THE ORDERLY OPERATION OF A SCHOOL.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR FREE REIGN TO SPREAD HARMFUL OR HATEFUL CONTENT.
WHEN STUDENT JOURNALISTS ARE EMPOWERED, SCHOOLS BECOME STRONGER.
YOU'RE NOT JUST PROTECTING STUDENT JOURNALISTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
IT IS 6:55 AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.