Summary of Director Tidholm's Community Safety Meeting on May 28

Burien-News Staff Writer

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May 31, 2024

On May 28, Highline School Board Director Stephanie Tidholm and Highline Schools hosted a community forum at Evergreen High School to “talk about and address safety in the community.” Families and students were “encouraged to bring their questions and ideas about safety in the community."

Approximately 10-15 family and community members attended. They brought questions related to recent student overdoses, ongoing violence, bullying, drugs, weapons in schools, gang activity, cell phones, and other behavioral challenges. They wanted to understand what the district was doing to keep their children safe in the schools and help them focus more on their studies than on their safety.

To the disappointment of several attendees we spoke with, the forum leaders offered little in the way of safety data or safety updates related to schools or White Center (Director Tidholm’s district.) Instead, leaders introduced their hand-selected moderators, who then gathered information and comments from the attendees.

Guiding Questions were as follows:

What do you think is being done currently that is working?
What Supports do you feel would be helpful to address the issue? What information would be helpful to know, and how would that best be communicated for you and your family?
Call To Action: What can/will you do going forward to contribute to an improved outcome?

Director Tidholm stopped by each table to observe during the 45-minute break-out sessions, and then the pre-selected table moderators reported for 20 minutes on the topics discussed.

Approximately 20 district-related facilitators and staff, including Superintendent Ivan Duran, Chief Engagement/Partnership Officer Kisa Hendrickson, former Director Aaron Garcia, and former HEA president Sandy Hunt, attended and helped facilitate the event.

Director Melissa Petrini, who will be hosting another community forum next week with Director Azeb Hagos, was present as an observer, but did not actively participate.

What prompted Highline’s Community Forums?

In the 2022-2023 school year, Highline School District engaged in dozens of “Listening Sessions” which uncovered the concerns of students, staff, families and the community, at large. Safety was high on the list of concerns, including bullying, gangs, drugs, guns in the schools, fights, and violence in general.

At Highline School Board’s spring retreat, the directors agreed that community trust and connection was a growing concern, so the directors committed to host several community events to connect with their constituents. They wanted to create a more transparent relationship with the public.

So far, only the newest directors - Tidholm, Petrini, and Hagos - have opted to engage with the public.

Tidholm: Community Safety (May 28)
Hagos and Petrini: Learning and Academics (June 4)

It is unclear if President Angelica Alvarez and Vice President Joe Van will host additional community events.

At the tail end of the 90-minute meeting, Director Tidholm asked if anyone had any final “quick questions.” Two questions were posed, but Tidholm did not directly answer the questions. She instead deferred to other district administrators in the room.

Questions and responses from the community:

Group 1

Question 1 = Having the children line up when entering and exiting the building (Togetherness).

Question 2 = Field Trips and having more Family involvement and better communication on dates and times. More support from home on behavioral health issues.

Question 3 = Continue supporting After School Program such as the Log Cabin and all Mentoring Opportunities.

Group 2

Question 1 = Teachers are being stricter and more consistent in the classroom, After School programs such as Boys and Girls Club (12 under) and The Log Cabin (Teens and older). Updating our school will bring more security to our students.

Question 2 = Monthly Community/Family meetings such as this one. More Adult Mentors and Volunteers here at the school and after school activities.

Question 3 = Training of our Teachers and Parents on communication skills such as how to interact with different cultures, language challenged students, and behavior health challenged students. Possibly holding a student held community Meeting once a month; Empowering the Youth to uphold the Rules and engage in change.

Group 3

Question 1 = Talking openly with staff, parents, and community about supporting our students.

Question 2 = Data Surveys, keep bringing the community together as their opinions make a difference. Our Non-Profit Community Partners we need to build more relationships with and obtain more support. Better Outreach to the entire community such as communication of happenings, social activities, sports, etc. via Text message, Social Medial, Flyers, online.

Question 3 = Communication between School District and Families. Lack of Money/Funding as it is always an issue. Notification of Absences; what are the things we can do as a school and what can parents do at home. Continue these community meetings and get our youth involved.

Group 4

Question 1 = Communication with parents has been working better the past 6 months. The teachers listening to the student voice has made learning more effective.

Question 2 = Obtain more programs similar to the Log Cabin for after school, more community involvement and awareness of these programs.

Question 3 = Adult/Children/Teacher - commitments to Education.
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‍Additional Questions/Comments from Meeting Attendees:

Will we do this type of meeting again, everyone agreed “YES”
Empowering the Children to have a similar meeting possibly on early release Fridays
Academic and Physical Programs, how can we improve communication on these such events as we often obtain them last minute
Communication Emails between parents and staff and how we can improve the response time
What is the vision on the cell phones for HSD, will HSD be participating in the BAN on cell phones in schools?