Indoctrination in Your State & District

Lights, Camera, .........off ??

White Bear Lake School District, Minnesota

Submitted: 2021-07-25

Story:

Pay very close attention to a school’s mission statement. It will give a clear indication of their focus, or lack thereof.
White Bear Lake Area School’s mission statement from 1994-2010 stated that their prioriry mission was to be in partnership with the community, and listed 4 more solid missions below that. It also highlighted their motto: ‘...leading minds to learning, hearts to compassion, lives to community service.’

In 2011, they omitted the priority mission ‘to be in partnership with the community’ and proudly claimed to already be ‘a leader in community partnerships’. They also omitted posting their motto on the 2011 mission statement.

Zoom to 2018, and the mission changed yet again to state that they are ‘the community at the forefront of educational excellence.’

This may seem unimportant,
but to know your school’s mission statement well, is to know what they are focused on.

White Bear Lake Schools have always had a rich tradition of dedicated parents, highly involved community members, and strong schools all around that sought strong partnerships with their community.

This all changed on July 12, 2021, at the WBL school board meeting. At least 15 community members/parents of WBL schools spoke during the public comment time of the meeting.
As noted by the public, the cameras were rolling for the introduction of the school board meeting, but ceased ‘rolling’ during the public comment section of the meeting. From now on, public concerns/celebrations from concerned parents or other community members will no longer be recorded and archived like they have always been in the past. No longer will community members who are unable to attend meetings get to view what concerns or celebrations are addressed. The cameras will not roll during this important part of the school board meeting. If you want to hear what’s being brought to the attention of the school board, you are going to have to show up in person. No exceptions.

I spoke to the school board on July 12, 2021, conveying my concerns surrounding the direction that the school board is attempting to to take as it pertains to insisting on ‘equity’ and CRT training of our teachers.

I never would have guessed that the cameras were not recording my 3 min. statement of concerns, nor were any of us in attendance informed that we would not be recorded.

This change came about without the heads up to the community. It was decided unanimously by the school board alone. Partnership with the community was omitted.

White Bear Lake has a solid community and dedicated parents who are highly invested in the education of their children and grandchildren. I implore the school board to reverse their decision of omitting the public comment from being recorded, and to trust the publicizing of the public’s concerns, the good the bad and even the ugly, as a way to improve upon the education of our young ones.
And while you're at it, please bring back the forgotten imperative mission: to be in partnership with the community.
We are here to support you!