The committee structure, the BOE/community interaction, the ability of the community to obtain information from the FCPS, and FCPS policies put parents at a disadvantage. To improve the empowerment of parents and build a more transparent and inclusive collaboration we have compiled some suggestions from parents and the community and encourage all parents to let the BOE know if you support any of these ideas.

Some small changes that could make a big difference

• Require each committee to post a monthly update on the FCPS website on the content and status of their work along with any available supporting documents. This is particularly important for the Policy, Curriculum, Family Life and Advisory, and Racial Equity Committees whose work is extremely impactful and often go months without a public meeting.
  
  
• Move the public comments to the end of all committee and BOE meetings and allow the public to ask questions of committees and the BOE after the BOE or committee updates. Todays public meetings allow no exchanges for clarification of FCPS positions and decisions, which hinders transparency and lessens trust and partnership. Note: This suggestion may initially sound unworkable but it can be successful if set up properly.
  
  
• Add an Academic Proficiency Committee to the BOE and require it to provide an update to the public in each monthly BOE meeting as standing agenda item.
  
  
• Post pending policy changes and/or recommendations to the FCPS website for public review, with continuous updates, the schedule for review, and with the source of the request (i.e., from the community, a committee, or school administration).
  
  
• Record and post all committee meetings and broadcast them live.
  
  
• Remove the FLAC committee’s authority to approve materials for lessons and place that authority with the BOE. The Health programs have become center of the most controversial classroom subjects in the country and the decisions impacting the lesson materials should reside with the BOE.
  
  
• Make the materials for teacher and staff mandatory training available to the public in a manner that does not violate contract and copyright restrictions.
  
  
• Hold Committee meetings in the evenings.
  
  
• Strengthen parental notification policies.
  
  

More suggestions? Comments on these? Please send them through our email at [email protected]

A Case in Point

The handling of the new COMAR standards for Family Life and Human Sexuality that contain gender identity and family definitions is an example of how the current structure is no longer adequate. Relative to these standards it’s clear that there was a problem in communication and collaboration that existed from the start. When the school system was discussing whether to introduce the topic in schools no earnest attempt was initiated to invite parents into the process. Instead the FCPS relied on a small number of community representatives on a committee to satisfy the goal of community input. That may have worked in the past work for general measures like choosing the optimal number of school nurses, however a concerted effort should have been made to create transparency into discussion anddecisions about what is arguably the most controversial topic in the public school systemsacross the country today. No notice or communication was distributed to parents that the BOE unanimously approved the standards that support the introduction of gender identity into elementary schools. While a Q&A was delivered in the late Spring via Find Out First no detailed updates on the status of curriculum and lesson development was provided after April’s contentious public meeting (as was requested from the BOE more than once). The committee that provided input (the Family Life Advisory Committee) has not held a public meeting in 4 months.

Decisions must be made in full view of the public, particularly in times that include a high volume of controversial topics and increasing mistrust in government institutions.