I attended and then walked out of the last IPS Action session. I walked out angry and I walked out hurt. I walked out feeling fully disregarded and disrespected.
If you missed it, all the commissioners took turns stating their personal reasons for opposing specific bills. When it was Commissioner Gayle Cosby’s turn, she decided to attack several organizations, including Stand for Children Indiana.
But she didn’t just attack Stand Indiana as an organization, she attacked parents like me. When she said parents like me should be discounted because we read from “scripts” and are paid to speak at school board meetings, I was livid.
And here’s why:
Stand for Children Indiana may have led me to that IPS podium, but they have NEVER told me what to say. Her words told me that she believes parents aren’t knowledgeable enough and we don’t care enough to speak our truth.
Stand for Children Indiana may have helped me learn how to find and use my voice and make my voice louder, but again…they never told me what to say.
Stand for Children Indiana may have helped me get to a meeting, removed barriers and obstacles that so many parents like me face, but again…I have my own voice.
Stand for Children Indiana has asked me and thousands of parents like me what we want for our kids. They have listened to me and have never asked me to say anything but my truth.
My goal was and is and will remain the same…equity for our kids. Equity for kids in IPS boundaries regardless of the type of school they attend. My agenda isn’t set in destroying those who don’t agree with me but instead focused on finding solutions that are best for our babies.
And today, I am angry. I am just as angry as I was at the January action session.
I would never expect every commissioner to share my every view. But I do expect respect and what Commissioner Cosby did during the last board meeting, making parents like me feel like everything we have done for students was worthless, was fully disrespectful.
I expect MORE of our elected officials and you should too.
After you sign this pledge, I’ll be in touch with next steps and ways you can join me.
