My youngest graduated from high school yesterday! We've now reached the point where all of our children are grown adults out of high school. The graduation ceremony was nice...and luckily we avoided the rain walking to and from the car. It rained earlier in the day, but stopped by the time we left for graduation. Then it rained while we were inside for graduation, but quit again by the time it was over. Since we had to walk quite a distance, we lucked out! Johnny, my mom, and I all rode up there together and then Ashlyn's dad drove her up there since his parents weren't going. And then sometime a little later in the summer, we're going to have a joint graduation celebration for Ashlyn, Aubry, and my sister (who graduated from college). Aubry and Chrystine graduated during 2020 while we were still going through the pandemic lockdowns...so we couldn't have a gathering at that time. We figured it would be a good idea to just have all three celebrations at the same time. And Aubry also graduated from WSU Tech in December 2022 (but decided not to walk at graduation) so we have lots to celebrate! :) I'm a very proud mama.
And here is a photo I took of Ashlyn during the ceremony...looking very happy after crossing the stage and receiving her diploma. :)
It was also a pretty special graduation ceremony...as it will be the last one presented by the high school principal. Ever since my oldest started high school here in 2016, every interaction I've ever had with the DHS principal has been wonderful. He oversees the third largest high school in the state of Kansas...as far as the number of students. There are over 2100 students enrolled in the high school...there were over 520 students just in Ashlyn's graduating class. But the principal has been very attentive to the needs of the student body and you can tell he genuinely cares about the kids. And you can also tell that he is beloved by the community. The roar of applause for the principal when he first spoke at graduation was very bittersweet...knowing it's his last year at the school and why.
This might get a bit uncomfortable for some...but it needs to be said. I've tried to keep my mouth shut on Facebook...because I tend to get very argumentative when I feel strongly about a particular subject. And sometimes the responses people post...let's just say it causes my faith in humanity to take a nose dive. :P
The "why" for the principal's early departure is largely the district's Board of Education. Several board members ran and were elected solely on hot-button conservative issues like masks. And since their election onto the board...they've taken extremist positions against masks, of course, (the BOE president actually sued the school over it...a judge dismissed the case), banning books/curriculums, and being terrified of anything having to do with diversity. Literally...the BOE president (and several other conservative members) vetoed an initial 5-year strategic plan largely because it had the words "diversity" and "inclusion" in it. He didn't approve of it including plans for "increasing positive culture and climate (equity, safety and belonging)." Because heaven-forbid our students feel a sense of equity, safety, and belonging! One board member even stated, “schools are not in the business of mental health.” That's weird...because there is literally a psychologist on site at the high school. Why? Because mental health ABSOLUTELY affects education AND the school environment. As someone who has studied forensic psychology and behavior analysis...I can tell you with absolute certainty that mental health (and other social-economic factors) plays a huge role in the development of children and teenagers. It's interesting that schools focus a lot of attention on "active shooter drills" but when it comes to learning and dealing with the problems that can lead to such actions...oh we can't have that. It's not like it's a mystery. We have been studying the psychology behind such events for DECADES. But why do the work to prevent problems when we can just use reactive measures backed by lots of thoughts and prayers? Because that clearly works so well. Some BOE members are also very concerned about educational assessments and academic scores...but want to completely ignore all the issues that can affect those bench marks. Seriously...they have no idea what they're doing. They're just full of buzzwords, ignorance, and intolerance.
One board member was outraged after learning that the beloved principal--in an effort to address issues that some students were actually facing in the high school--showed an educational video about being sensitive to racial concerns. A teacher complained to the BOE member that it was "offensive" and created a "hostile work environment." I'm sorry but if learning about problems faced by people who are different than you is so scary for you...maybe you should rethink your occupational decisions...or quite frankly, your life decisions in general. I mean...getting upset over a video that discusses white privilege and then displaying your white privilege by demanding an apology because you got hurt in the feel feels (as my oldest daughter would say)...that's pretty ironic. Way to prove the whole point, dumbass. The BOE member demanding an apology (indirectly) from a principal who was trying to do right by his students because the small-minded adults in the room can't handle being uncomfortable learning about the uncomfortable things that others face?! Are you seriously kidding me right now? Grow the fuck up.
The beloved HS principal sent an apology via email. The fact that he felt forced to do such a thing...it's absolutely disgusting. I honestly can't blame him for taking a $30k cut in pay to take on a different role in a different school district...instead of his plan to to retire from this district in 2025...a district that he has devoted the last 28 years of his life to (including his final role as principal for the last 13 years). The announcement of his resignation was heartbreaking...but unfortunately, not shocking. I wouldn't put up with that bullshit either.
The BOE even decided in executive session--seemingly out of nowhere--not to renew the contracts for the superintendent (27 years with the district in multiple capacities and superintendent since 2017) and two assistants...and then quickly reversed their decision about a week later (well I say quickly...it was a 3-hour long executive session to come to that decision). And guess which two still opposed the vote to renew the contracts? The extremist BOE president and his little side-kick. Now...I personally have very little personal experience with the superintendent outside of the speeches she has made during ROTC and graduation ceremonies...but it's still pretty surprising. Also...the timing is very suspect.
The principal showed the video in January, a board Member complained to the superintendent in February, and then a week later they decide not to renew the contracts of the superintendent. But then a week later BOE President said, "No member of this board was seeking retribution or retaliation. There were no threats made to anyone that would jeopardize anyone’s employment in the district. Any assumptions or statements otherwise are simply false.” Really? Because the timing of HIS vote not to renew the superintendent's contract shortly after the incident and after stating that her response to the situation was "a month too late" seems retaliatory to me. Seems to me that the BOE President is the one making statements that are "simply false."
And their claims that "most of the community" would have a problem with it...I'm sorry...when did you ACTUALLY ask "most of" the community? Oh that's right...you didn't. You just ASSume that "most of the community" holds the same extremist views that you do. They don't. Considering how many community members who showed up in support of the principal...clearly their ASSumption of how the community actually feels was "simply false."
All I can say...is that my vote for BOE positions will absolutely be retributory. That principal was far more beloved in this community than the extremists that currently serve on the board. We lost an amazing and prominent administrative figure in this district who truly cared about the students as individuals and championed for their success. And my hope is that when it comes time to vote...the current board members will feel the consequences of their actions through their dismissal.
But ANYWAY...all I can say is that I am so glad that both of my children were able to graduate high school under the guidance of a wonderful principal...and that they are no longer students in the school district. Because the decisions being made by this current BOE and the long-lasting implications of those decisions...nope. My children...the oldest was in high school from 2016-2020 and the youngest from 2019-2023. And I can tell you that the atmosphere before and after the 2021 BOE election...it has been a palpable difference and NOT for the better. Thank goodness for the good teachers, staff, and administration...who were basically manning a sinking ship. There have been MANY teachers, staff, and administration who are jumping ship. And I, for one, don't blame them at all. I can only hope for better decisions in the future...but I'm grateful that I won't have to deal with the ramifications of BOE decisions directly anymore since I no longer have a child in the district. :P