Spotsylvania County school board meetings have become a catalyst for fiery speeches and political sparring. As the country continues to become more divided, so do school boards across the nation.
And this has only stalled real change from happening. With issues like masks, CRT, and books becoming more political, the school board has failed at coming to any
compromise for the sake of students and parents.
This has not only created massive negative attention for Spotsylvania County but has also negatively impacted k-12 schools in almost every area.
Spotsylvania Schools have reached record highs in teacher, and bus driver shortages, as well as some of the lowest testing scores among middle and high school students in recent years.
Instead of addressing these issues formally, Spotsylvania school board members have instead used their platform and privilege to advance their partisan ideas, sparring amongst themselves, and even parents.
Some, like Nicole Cole and Dawn Shelley, have even organized protests in opposition to their fellow members instead of acting professionally, to do what they were elected to do.
Students, like PAC member Dante’ Braden, are fed up with the state of our school board.
I sat down with Dante’ to discuss some of his ideas. He has suggested that the board create a student advisory board so that students can have their voices heard, in a more legitimate fashion.
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Why did you feel the need to create a student advisory board?
“I was listening to the radio on my ride to school a few mornings ago, and the station quoted one student, it really stood out to me, and answers your questions as to why I sought to organize students to create it, that is “So often do we talk of student voices without actually listening to them.”
Do you feel like the school board has been negligent in addressing issues that matter to students?
“I believe that the school board itself has, yes; however, the individual board members have not been. I have talked to nearly all the board members, and each of them has some genuinely great ideas that address student issues, but for some reason, when they come together as a group, those ideas get lost in the bureaucracy.”
What will be the purpose of the student advisory board, and how will it be different from public comments?
“Ideally, its purpose is to represent the student body — Ha! Ha! As to how it will differ, a few things. Firstly, this would be a formal organization within the school board, not an allocated speaking time. Secondly, Abuismail and I entertained the idea of having a student representative who would speak at school board meetings about the ideas discussed by the advisory board. Though, essentially, it would be a group to consult for the student's voice.”
Where do we go from here? Do you have any concerns regarding the current actions of the school board?
“Up. I would like to get a student representative with a vote on the board, but that might be a little too ambitious — Ha! Ha! As to current concerns, yeah, but it is actually inaction, not action. I want a motion made to create a Student Comments section, then I want the student advisory board to be made the number one priority of policy.”
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Dante’ has some genuinely good ideas that would benefit all students in Spotsylvania county. As he mentioned, his idea of creating a student advisory board was entertained by board official Rabih Abuismail, with whom Dante’ had a conversation a few weeks ago.
Mr. Abuismail has been vocal about his concerns that the board is ignoring concerns of parents in students. During a meeting, he made this statement to Dr. Baker, who was recently fired from his position as acting superintendent:
“I’m just so sick of our administration acting all polished up, but behind the scenes, it’s nothing but corruption, the old boy system, and I’m just sick of it!”
Abusmail said.
The only way these issues can be solved is through a better communication system between students and board members. And as students, we have the right to control what happens to our future, and the future of those who come after us.
Whether that be through a Student Advisory Board, or through protest, something needs to be done to put an end to this corruption and partisan politics on the school board.
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