I am the parent and former Springfield teacher who was interrupted by the Springfield Public Schools school board chair while delivering public comment at the Dec. 8 board meeting. While I believe it was wrong to attempt to shut down my comment, I credit the chair for revealing to reporters after the meeting had been adjourned that my comments weren’t necessarily a violation of public comment policy.

The chair was quoted in Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s article saying that she encourages feedback, but the board’s hands are tied about curriculum concerns until district-level and state-level investigations are wrapped up. While I appreciate the situation she is in, I respectfully disagree with that assessment. Here’s why:

Last year’s teacher-led complaint to the Oregon Department of Education was about district compliance to state curriculum requirements in the 2023-24 school year, but what is happening in regard to curriculum in the current school year? Springfield Public Schools cannot be absolved of accountability to this year’s students while everyone waits for the state education department’s investigation into last year’s complaint, delayed multiple times already, to wrap.

Last summer, a letter signed by 75 concerned teachers eager to provide well-rounded instruction was presented to the board. To the surprise of many, their letter was labeled a “formal complaint” by administrative leadership, and not taken for what it was, a letter of inquiry. In labeling it a formal complaint, any discussion of their letter became out of bounds. Why the label? Why not proactively engage with teachers instead?

As a result of the formal complaint label, the ability of the school board to address these issues — and for the community to apparently even bring it up — was neutered. Without addressing community concerns, administrative leadership and the school board should expect the community to become actively engaged.

This is why after a recess was declared in the middle of my comment, I turned to those gathered and continued speaking. Students deserve untied hands working hard to advocate for their best interests.

Please join the 645 people who have signed my online petition calling for this change. Let’s use our voices, together, to advocate for our children. Public inquiry and collaboration are at the core of maintaining a democracy.

Sarah Bosch
Springfield