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Get caught up on the Salem-Keizer school board and discussion about police in schools

Reporter Rachel Alexander explains recent controversies on the Salem-Keizer School Board.

Salem Reporter is launching a new feature recapping significant news stories in short videos called “Salem Reporter :60.” Below, education reporter Rachel Alexander explains recent controversies on the Salem-Keizer School Board, with links to prior coverage for more context.

If you’d like to learn more, here’s a recap of our coverage.

For 50 years, police have patrolled schools in Salem. Now, some say it’s time for a new approach.

As a coalition led by Latinos Unidos Siempre began the push to remove police from schools earlier this summer, we took a deeper look at the history of the school resource officer program and its outcomes. Many in local schools and the community have praised the program for building positive relationships. We found there’s little data collected on its effectiveness or officers’ involvement in student discipline and arrests.

Should police stay in Salem-Keizer schools? Here’s what local citizens are saying.

As tensions mounted over police in schools, hundreds of people weighed in over several school board meetings. Here’s a roundup of comments, with the major pro and con themes we found combing through them.

Board director, community leaders call on Salem-Keizer school board chair Marty Heyen to step down

School board meetings became more volatile in mid-June after a video of board Director Paul Kyllo wearing a cutout of a Black man’s face over his own during a March meeting resurfaced. The resulting fallout laid bare longstanding conflicts within the board and between board members and district leadership.

Superintendent Christy Perry rebukes school board over “discounting” experiences of students of color

As calls for resignations mounted ahead of a June 23 meeting, Superintendent Christy Perry took the unprecedented step of telling the board – her bosses – that they were failing to give due consideration to concerns from students of color. She also faulted them for what she described as prioritizing internal power struggles over the work of leading the district.

Marty Heyen won’t resign, but won’t seek Salem-Keizer school board chair

Former board Chair Marty Heyen became a flashpoint over both her handling of Kyllo’s stunt and apparent ties to conservative militia group the Three Percent, which many of her critics describe as white supremacist. We spoke with her about Perry’s comments, the recent turmoil and her views on police in schools and the groups pushing for change.

Chandragiri, Bethell elected to Salem-Keizer school board leadership for 2019-20

The early July election of a new school board chair typically draws almost no public viewership or comment, but this year was a marked departure. Despite community comments overwhelmingly in favor of Sheronne Blasi as the next board chair, the board instead elected Satya Chandragiri, a psychiatrist who’s one year into his first term.

AGENDA: School board will hear updates on fall reopening, discuss standing committee on school climate

That takes us to the July 14 school board meeting, where board directors will hear plans for school reopening and take one hour of public comment. There’s no decision scheduled on any major items, but Chandragiri will explain how he wants a decision on police in schools to be made. You can watch via the embedded video below.

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Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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.