Letter to the School Board from Jessica Markham-Brink 1/12/26

My name is Jessica Markham-Brink. I am the parent to two school age children in this district. I want to express my appreciation for the work and time that each of the board members puts in to support Bandon School District. I also want to remind each one of you that not everyone in this community has the privilege of being able to volunteer their time. That is why we, as a community, have elected each one of you to the positions you hold. Whether we voted for you personally, you have sworn to do what is best for all the children in the community. 

Both of my children have attended school in the Bandon school district since kindergarten. However, my older child is currently enrolled in an online school. I made the decision to enroll my child in an online school out of desperation after many conversations and meetings with principals, teachers, and the school counselor. I never wanted to homeschool my child. It isn’t what he needs. But I felt forced into a position as a parent where my child was in CRISIS and needed intervention. I was able to take him to a counseling center that provided parents and guardians with a family support specialist whose job it was to help them better support their child. As a result, I decided to have my child assessed for ADHD. Because of the many meetings I had with the district IEP specialist, I didn’t expect my child to be diagnosed with ADHD. So I was shocked when that is what happened. However, as I educate myself on what ADHD is and how it effects children, I realized that the signs had always been there.

My child has struggled with anxiety, depression and panic attacks throughout his school career.  It has adversely affected his ability to receive the education he is entitled to receive. I have communicated my concerns regarding my child's challenges to both the IEP and 504 coordinators on multiple occasions. My child was given a 504 plan, but the accommodations that were provided to him were both punishing and pointless. What good is it for my child to have extra time for assignments when there isn’t enough support staff or teacher time for ALL the students who need extra help and support? It is like some kind of educational Hunger Games!

As a parent, I have often felt disrespected, judged, unheard, gaslit and on one occasion, threatened when interacting with school leadership. Instead of the partnership I expected to find at Bandon school district, my concerns were brushed aside. It has led me to understand that there is a pattern of this district administration not being willing to acknowledge that there are students who need to be assessed for learning barriers. Too many of our students are being identified with ADHD, dyslexia and other barriers IN HIGHSCHOOL. I believe there are many families in this community who have felt frozen out of the district and have been forced to look for alternatives to ensure their children’s education. I hope they will speak for themselves and their families to expose the damage that has been caused by the lack of action by the people entrusted with the education of their children. It is clear to me that some children and families receive disparate treatment. Not every family has this experience.

I have considered filing a formal complaint about the 504 and IEP process many times, but it is hard as lay person to navigate the bureaucracy of the school districts complaint process It has become a wall and a shield to keep the community from being able to be heard by this board. 

I look forward to an independent investigation of all the superintendent’s actions during her tenure here. I hope that the investigation will be released and that the community will have full access to the data and conclusions 

I am grateful and inspired by the bravery of the teachers in our district for speaking up for themselves and for what is right for our children. I wish I had known about the issues they have been facing under the current school administration. We all have the same goals, to provide an education to all the children of our community. I hope the community can find a way to work together to fulfill the mission of the school district to empower all of our students to find success.