glitterypeanutmugnickel:

jenroses:

I cannot overstate the importance of local school board elections.

We finally have a progressive supermajority in our district. Here are some things that are going on.

1. Lunch and breakfast are free for all students, regardless of income. They ask students at wealthier schools that don’t federally qualify as an entire school for free lunch to apply for free lunch because it increases federal reimbursement, but they are simply not charging students for lunch or breakfast.
2. They fired the big corp that was handling lunches (sodexa?) and brought it in house and the selections include vegetarian, kosher/halal, and often local and organic foods. The quality is good. They pay attention to nutrition. My picky kid can usually find something to eat.
3. The schools are nut free. As the parent of a peanut-allergic kid, I’m grateful.
4. We’re not banning books.
5. There’s no shopping list for back to school because, get this, the district is providing supplies! They ask that kids bring a backpack. My kid’s cheeseburger backpack has held up mightily and is still in great shape, so we’re good.
6. Trans kids are protected at the state level, but also at the local level.
7. They’re doing an overhaul of special education with an eye to eliminating ABA. This is a sea change.
8. Kids get a city bus pass, free.

I have so many feelings. One of my friends is on the school board, and she’s been part of this huge shift in priorities. I feel like good things are possible again. This is what free public education should mean.

The radicalized religious Republican right is showing up at school board meetings because we stopped going. Turns out auto pilot isn’t a thing in local democracy.