Public Comment - Winona Area Public Schools

ESSER III Plan

Lifting Up Every Winhawk Plan

School Board Meetings

Sept. 2 meeting

Watch the video here

Maurella Cunningham: Asked that ESSER funding be used to address and recognize Minnesota's highest priority needs by student group.
Allen Hillery: Shared concerns about COVID and urged the strongest protocols possible.
Mary Jo Klinker: Asked that WAPS disaggregate all survey data by race, and advocated for a cultural liaison for students of color. Asked that members of the Diversity and Equity Committee be involved in hiring the student success coaches identified in the ESSER funding.
Allison Quam: Thanked the board for passing a universal mask mandate, also thanked board members who tried to make the protocols stronger. Advocated for a cultural liaison.
Tyler Bowman: ESSER funds should be specifically alloted to support students of color, and these programs or staffing decisions should include input from students, parents, families and community members of color.
LaShara Morgan (statement ready by Chair Nancy Denzer): Asked the board what they are going to do to fix issues of racism in the school district and asked for transparency with the public.
Gregory Johnson: Asked for a cultural liaison to help educate the teachers and other students so they can learn about one another's culture and deal with one another's culture.
Leslie Ruff: Did not want to see CRT traning in the district. Also did not want a mask mandate and did not want the district to push vaccines on children.
Kari Forhan: Expressed concerns about sending her African-American child to school and said other families of students of color feel the same way. Urged funding for a cultural liaison to address racism issues.

Sept. 19 meeting

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Maurella Cunningham: Requested the district hire a cultural liaison to work with students of color. Asked that community members be involved in creating the job description. Concerned about the change in status of the Diversity and Equity Committee to be a board committee.
Greg Johnson: Asked that community members of color serve on the new board Diveristy and Equity Committee.
Patrick Boozhoo: Asked that the school board offer everyone a seat at the table in discussions about the district and urged they follow through on hiring a cultural liaison.

Survey Results

Community and Staff Engagement

WAPS Safe Learning Plan (2021-22)

School Board Meetings

School Board Meetings

Aug. 19 meeting

Watch the video here

Allison Quam: Asked the board to make masks mandatory regardless of transmission risks in the community, at least until all students can get the vaccine.
Maurella Cunningham: Wanted to know how the WAPS school board engages with the community to hear concerns. She also hoped that the new WAPS Online Academy would have a licensed teacher available to students in each content area, and wanted to know why WAPS refers truancy cases to Winona County and the Department of Corrections.
Stephanie Boebel: Disagreed with masks mandates, and asked that the board make masks optional.
Annie Casselman: Also disagreed with mask mandates and wants to make masks optional.

Sept. 2 meeting

Watch the video here

Maurella Cunningham: Asked that ESSER funding be used to address and recognize Minnesota's highest priority needs by student group.
Allen Hillery: Shared concerns about COVID and urged the strongest protocols possible.
Mary Jo Klinker: Asked that WAPS disaggregate all survey data by race, and advocated for a cultural liaison for students of color. Asked that members of the Diversity and Equity Committee be involved in hiring the student success coaches identified in the ESSER funding.
Allison Quam: Thanked the board for passing a universal mask mandate, also thanked board members who tried to make the protocols stronger. Advocated for a cultural liaison.
Tyler Bowman: ESSER funds should be specifically alloted to support students of color, and these programs or staffing decisions should include input from students, parents, families and community members of color.
LaShara Morgan (statement ready by Chair Nancy Denzer): Asked the board what they are going to do to fix issues of racism in the school district and asked for transparency with the public.
Gregory Johnson: Asked for a cultural liaison to help educate the teachers and other students so they can learn about one another's culture and deal with one another's culture.
Leslie Ruff: Did not want to see CRT traning in the district. Also did not want a mask mandate and did not want the district to push vaccines on children.
Kari Forhan: Expressed concerns about sending her African-American child to school and said other families of students of color feel the same way. Urged funding for a cultural liaison to address racism issues.

WAPS Safe Learning Plan (2020-21)

School Board Meetings

Aug. 20, 2020

Community member, Craig Miller, asked the board to reconsider the decision to implement Winhawk Learning Plan #3.
Community member, Mike Lehnertz, expressed concern regarding Winhawk Learning Plan #3.

Sept. 3, 2020

Tim Buswell, community member, requested that sports not be postponed.

Sept. 17, 2020

Katherine Gilmer, community member, submitted a concern regarding fall athletics postponement.
Jodi Mueller, community member, submitted concerns about district athletics.

Jan. 7, 2021

Nico Stern, WSHS student, submitted a public comment with concerns regarding Winhawk Learning Models.
Natalie Horeck, WSHS student, submitted a public comment in support of Nico Stern’s public comment.