SCHOOLS ARE UNSAFE

Two Things Necessary for Learning: Parental Involvement & Safety

Despite this necessity, for the last two years parents have been forced out of schools due to Covid restrictions and our District's strict policy against allowing medical or religious exemptions for parents. Safety is at a crisis point in schools. SKPS, like other educational systems, has been gradually “reimagining” discipline over the last decade. The fruit of these new policies is coming to light and has been magnified by the effects of COVID. All throughout SKPS, from elementary to high school, there have been daily reports of disruptive behavior, destruction of school property, fights, weapons, threats of violence, and inappropriate sexual behavior, even at the "good" schools.

Parents can no longer afford to send their students to school trusting they'll be safe and cared for appropriately. We strongly encourage you to ask SKPS students about what's happening at their schools, then engage with school staff and district leadership to put an end to this behavior. Consequences and accountability have become greatly limited. In fact, "consequences" and "punishment" are just two of the discipline related vocabulary words that the district has directed school staff to stop using. Talk to students, gather information, and use your voice to stand up for our kids. 

Letter to Superintendent Perry from Waldo Staff

Last week, a letter signed by almost every staff person and every teacher at Waldo Middle School was sent to the superintendent begging for a return to holding students accountable for their behavior. Teachers and staff have been bitten, spit on, yelled at, and punched every day. The principal was out for a week with a concussion after attempting to break up a fight. Some teachers have security guards accompany them down the hall. Many schools, like Waldo, have had to close bathrooms due to safety concerns, including reports of sex and drug deals occurring there. Please join the Waldo staff in demanding accountability and safety for students and staff.

WAYS TO ENGAGE

• Check the values underlying your child’s curriculum; all parents have the right to view curriculum upon request at any time.
• Build a relationship with your child's teacher and principal. Ask how you can help, acknowledge what's being done well, send encouraging messages, etc.
• Ask to see what's being taught. Be respectful. Assume the best, but verify.
• Ask to visit your child's classroom. Let the teacher know that you genuinely care. Encourage teachers who share your values.
• Ask to see what books students are reading, specifically as part of their literacy and integrated studies (science, social studies, & health) curriculum.
• Submit a letter outlining your concern and communicate your need to be notified in advance of any Comprehensive Sex Ed. instruction.
• Ask to be notified of the content of any school assemblies, outside teachers, or presenters that will be teaching your kids. Ask for their credentials and what material or handouts will be used.
• Share your concerns at a school board meeting by speaking or submitting written comment.

Join the Citizens Alliance Network

CAN is an advocacy group working to bring conservative values back to

the Salem-Keizer area in regards to education, local leadership, and state issues. SKWST will be partnering with CAN to increase our impact.

Salem Keizer We Stand Together is a nonpartisan group of citizens striving to educate, equip, encourage, and empower our community to respectfully engage with one voice for parent’s rights, educational transparency, equal opportunity, academic excellence, and school choice for every student.

Our group is about transparency and choice. We want to inform parents and guardians of their choices and provide them tools to successfully engage with the school system.