Evart parents alleviate inappropriate behavior at elementary

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EVART Parents raised concerns over alleged inappropriate conduct within the elementary at the most recent Evart Public Schools board of education meeting.

During the Oct. 10 meeting, several parents and family members of students attending the elementary school spoke about the allegations of inappropriate conduct in the building.

During the public comment portion, parent Kenzie Wirth outlined the alleged incidents.

An incident took place this week when our son came home from school and laid in a provocative manner on his side and kind of caressed his body and I asked where he learned that and he said, this is my sexy pose, Kenzie Wirth said. Turns out he learned it from a teacher in the elementary school. Upon further discussion within the community, this sexy pose has apparently been also requested by half of the elementary-aged cheer team to pose like that for cheer pictures.

There was an inappropriate sticker that was on the teachers computer, and just for the sake of it, it was Mr. Santanas computer and he had a pinup girl on his computer, she added. Our biggest thing is sexy isn’t even a word that should be used while teaching children. It was a little baffling to me that this staff member, when approached by an 8-year-old in the elementary didn’t hear sexy being used in the appropriate context, and (see) that’s a red flag, that’s a CPS report, possibly.

While the parent did not clarify who they meant by “Mr. Santana,” the only known staff member listed in the school’s directory is elementary teacher Santana Scott.

In a call with the Pioneer on Friday, Oct. 14, Superintendent Shirley Howard was unable to confirm the identity of the person referenced but was able to confirm that the school is looking into the allegations against the staff member.

“I would be willing to say that there were some issues brought up at the board meeting,” Howard said. “The district takes everything very seriously, and we are following up on the information that was provided to us at the board meeting.”

At the board meeting, Kenzie Wirth encouraged the board to look into more options for professional development training on addressing inappropriate behavior and mandatory reporting within the education system.

Ken Wirth, a family member of a student within the elementary, also spoke up about concerns about childrens safety.

I’m going to tell you right now this is bulls–t, Ken Wirth said. I expect my school board to hold the administration accountable. I expect Shirley (Howard) to hold her principals accountable. I expect our principals to hold the teachers accountable, and I expect the teachers to hold the students accountable. That’s how we’re at things run smoothly. How many times are we going to have meetings like this, and how many meetings and things have happened, we don’t even know? We’ve had issues a while back.

How long are we going to wait until this happens again? Ken Wirth continued, I’ll be d—ed if that’s my kid. So I would say let’s get our s–t together. There was inappropriate stuff happening, the word sexy, or however you want to say it, has been used. There have been issues in the past that people have been throwing flags off. How do I know my child going into that classroom or anything in the school and how is he safe?

Josh Wirth spoke up to cite an alleged incident in which a male teacher wore a dress and laid on a desk in front of students during the last school year.

Some in attendance relayed beliefs that repercussions for incidents of concern were not handed down, addressed or released by the board of education.

Diana Craven, the Evart band director and a parent of students attending the district, spoke to concerns about board members presence within the actual school.

Everyone is relying on you, Craven said. Hundreds of people, hundreds of kids and their parents and their grandparents, and you make all these decisions. The thing that is extremely difficult is how absent you are from the schools.

Some of you I see maybe once a year at graduation, and you make policies that have affected my children so much, Craven added. I would challenge you to come into the high school and see what is going on. If you were actually in there seeing things, at least you would feel like you had an educated decision that you would make.

Several in attendance expressed wishes alongside Craven for board members to be more actively involved inside the schools buildings on a regular basis.

Cathy Wirth acknowledged the challenges within education presently.

In no other time has education been this hard, Wirth said. Behaviors are at an extreme. Educators and parents are doing the best they can. We know that you’re doing the best you can every day for our kids and we appreciate that. I think just for you to be curious and ask the questions, not just in this space, but in those spaces because that’s where we need you the most is (as) boots on the ground.

Let’s not just sweep it under the rug, she added. Let’s get to the bottom of it and make sure that our babies are safe because they’re going to be in your position someday.

The school board does not normally directly respond to public comment speakers, however, board member Eric Schmidt addressed the crowd in the room.

“I’m the newbie and have only been here for two years but I’m still baffled when the audience asks questions, and we just stay silent,” Schmidt said. “Are we to assume that Shirley (Howard) will take care of all these matters? Can we request a report on how this is handled at the next meeting? I think that is what they are missing, they’re missing the follow-up .

“That’s something that I personally think they talked about, that’s why they’re getting aggravated,” he added. “Because theybring their points, we do something and nothing’s done. I think that’s their aggravation, then something else happens and then they come (back).”

The next board of education meeting is scheduled for 7 pm Nov. 14 in the schools boardroom at 321 North Hemlock St. in Evart.

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