Photo Credit: Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader
A gathering of Springfield educators and parents took place along St. Louis Street, expressing dissatisfaction with the district's approach to student discipline and advocating for change.
Prior to the scheduled school board meeting, a group assembled carrying placards with messages such as "Stakeholders for Safe Schools" and "Protect our teachers SPS, enforce discipline." Their chants of "What do we want? Safe schools. When do we want it? Now!" echoed through the air, accompanied by supportive honks from passing vehicles.
The Springfield National Education Association orchestrated the protest, with its president, Laura Mullins, vocalizing concerns about student behavior problems in various school board sessions.
Dianne Ely, a co-founder of the Back on Track group, and Calvin Morrow, affiliated with Back on Track PAC and serving as the executive director of Christians Uniting for Political Action, were present at the gathering.
CUPA and Back on Track collaborated on a 2023 board race voter guide, endorsing candidates who prioritized parental rights and opposed critical race theory, transgender students' bathroom and locker use, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion training. Rollins and McCarter received support from these groups.
The full article can be found on the Springfield Newsletter website here.
Safety is fundamental in a child’s access to learning. It is also vital to recruiting and retaining qualified educators. Let’s make it a priority in every classroom.