My name is Jessica Markham-Brink. I am the parent of two school age children in the Bandon School District. I am also a 1987 graduate of Bandon High School and a local businessperson. I am here tonight to ask, what will it take to spur this board into action? How long will it take before they acknowledge that our school district is in crisis!? 

The community should be able to voice their concerns and trust that their school board will hear them and take them seriously. It can’t be business as usual. Now is not the time to brush aside all the very real issues that parents, community members, teachers and staff have brought forward. Instead of triggering an investigation of the superintendent’s actions in her position, it seems that the board is instead trying to behave as if nothing untoward is going on, practically ignoring the many complaints that have been filed. 

In her recent email to district stakeholders, the superintendent  has promised to hold listening sessions. On the surface, this seems like a positive move forward. However, as a wise person recently said to me, these listening sessions are too little, too late. The time to listen was when she began in her position as superintendent, not now, after alienating so many. 

In fact, she is only willing to listen after having created a toxic work and learning environment that has many families in this community either choosing not to educate their children in our school district or into leaving our community to find an education for their children.

Our schools are not factories. You are not producing widgets! Our children are more than their data, and students who have barriers to their education are not seconds to be plucked off the factory line. Our teachers are valued members of our community. They have spent years of their lives becoming the educators they are today.  They are not simply inputs into a product, laborers to be used to maximize value and minimize labor costs. Each of them brings their own set of skills and experience to the table. They are not interchangeable! 

The land that our school district owns is more than valuable real estate and our budget is not to be used as a pot of cash to invest in money market accounts at local banks run by school board members. 

From all appearances, this school board seems to be confused about their role. School boards are accountable to the community they serve; you are not in your position to protect a superintendent from accountability for their leadership failures.

The community is watching, listening, and having conversations with each other. Transparency and accountability are the only ways to restore trust. Bandon School Board, Do Better because your community deserves better!!!