The Salem-Keizer School Board will interview students interested in advising the board next school year and consider a resolution asking the district to take steps to address climate change at a Tuesday evening meeting.
To participate
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 8.
The board will meet in person, but members of the public may only attend and comment virtually.
Members of the public can sign up for in-person or virtual public comment before the meeting starts until 3 p.m. Monday using the link here.
The meeting will be streamed on CC:Media, channel 21, and on YouTube at the links below:
English: https://youtube.com/live/Y1Rx001PAHo
Spanish: https://youtube.com/live/V5zEnWC0b-E
On the agenda
Board members are interviewing three students who have applied to serve as the board’s advisor for the 2023-24 school year. The students are:
- Patrick Hersig-Gutierrez, a junior at South Salem High School and co-president of the school’s Latino Club
- Linda Pappas, a junior at North Salem High School and equity and inclusion officer for North’s student government
- Tierney Pickett, a junior at Sprague High School and editor of the school yearbook
The board’s student advisor attends school board meetings and provides the board with a student perspective but cannot vote. Board members will vote on a student advisor at their June meeting.
The board will have a first reading of a climate justice resolution which directs the district superintendent to establish a “Climate Crisis Committee.” The committee would be charged with developing recommendations for taking action on climate change within the district’s purview and presenting an action plan to the school board.
“Climate change will continue to affect us greatly. This resolution is key to allowing and creating spaces for students to not only learn about climate change and its effects but also creates spaces to generate
solutions,” the board agenda item says. “This resolution hopes to bring forth this issue so students can adequately learn about climate change in class as well as create school communities that prioritize sustainability and climate action and so that educational opportunities related to climate justice can be offered to all.”
The board would vote on the climate resolution at a later meeting.
Board members will consider re-electing Qurat (Anna) Ali to represent the district on the Willamette Education Service District Board of Directors.
They will consider approving proclamations for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month; and for Teacher Appreciation Month.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
