Megan Layng for SCASD School Board

Parents: Citizens Advisory of PA just released the 2023-24 opt-out form. You are welcome to download and send in (by certified mail). Pass it on!
https://www.citizensadvisorypa.com/_files/ugd/0aab6c_4c90c0681c104d03948ebbf7d53c90a2.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3p1Bz3Isoz5SFsfMSGQYUCXtIBbyrUV8G9qMd9AsE12zcLY4FpR080_Fc_aem_Ab7meWmRSBsUUL-VFnN_q_EjiRYfnlMEbV0dYcPdh1lIZVyBWLID1t9EqLzd_7zV9dE&mibextid=2JQ9oc

www.citizensadvisorypa.com

Thanks to everyone who contributed to yesterday's huge narrative-busting success! I'm grateful for all of those who volunteered and for the support that turned out from both parties.

Statement on Recent News
I was asked for a statement for the article that was released by the CDT and StateCollege .com today. I kept it as pithy as possible because everyone understands the state of the media today. No matter what you give them, statements are twisted and sensationalized to fit an agenda. I will speak for myself here.

Yes, I was in the school. As a candidate, I decided to do a prayer walk around the school and get an up-close look at the facility. The article states that I entered with “no permission”. There was no indication at the entrance that any permission was needed. I didn’t think it would be open at that time, but there was a door that appeared to be an after-hours door through which people could enter. Unlocked. No sign warning against trespassing. A sign saying their security cameras were operational. I was glad to see that, but it is no deterrent to someone whose intent is noble and isn’t aware that a "rule" is being broken.

As for taking pictures of books, that was not the purpose of our visit. However, I have had residents expressing concern about educational content in an anecdotal way, and complaining about things they see in other school districts. I was interested to see, with my own eyes, the extent to which those concerns were valid or applicable here. If what I saw is any indication, it does appear that there is a strong and divisive ideological agenda. I wish more people were able to see it.

I am an advocate for transparency with curriculum and, while I am not a “book banner”, there is a great deal of divisive material that I do not find appropriate for a school setting. From an advocacy standpoint, curriculum and lessons that push one set of values over another should be opt-in, not opt-out. That requires proper disclosure to parents, who must be regarded as the primary partner in the education of their children.

I have since had good conversations with the SRO and superintendent, Curtis Johnson. Given what is now clear about after hours access and the security posture of the district, I am glad that there is now proper signage and staffing for security. I was extremely impressed by how quickly the SRO addressed the signage and staffing. SCASD must be properly resourced with security as a priority. If security staffing is a problem, it must be addressed. One person stationed at that door would have turned me around without question. While it certainly wasn’t my intention to test the security apparatus, I am glad that the occasion served the purpose of adding the necessary security measures.

I couldn’t have imagined that I would be my own case study going into this election, but here we are. If you have concerns about school security or a divisive ideological agenda displacing traditional education for our kids, I want to be an advocate for you.