Board hears from concerned parents

By Todd Brooks

The Comanche School Board heard from concerned family members about two different issues at its monthly meeting on Feb. 13.

Board president Charlie Gay told the audience that the board would listen to their concerns, but there was nothing they could do about it that night since it wasn’t on the agenda.

First was Linda Graham saying the district needed to do more to make the campus more American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.

Graham has a grandchild that is currently one of three Comanche students district-wide that uses a wheelchair.

Graham noted several things that bonds have been used for, but said the district was lacking in an important area.

“Not one time have we put in these bonds anything to help our kids that are in wheelchairs,” Graham said. “Every single time we have gone from one building to the next, we have had issues on where we are going to go to the bathroom. She has to have a bathroom that is accessible. Every door to our buildings that are wheelchair accessible, you have to pull them open. How are you supposed to get in there independently? Show me how to go through a door that does not open. We have never demanded an aide. I don’t want my granddaughter to have an aide. None of the parents do. They want to teach independence. Is that not our goal at this school? Are we not supposed to be teaching these kids independence and to grow up and serve in the world?”

Graham went on to say that the school is not ADA compliant.

“We have no doors where she can walk in and push the door and open it,” Graham said. “The grade school doesn’t need it. I get it. They have a teacher with them everywhere they go. They do not need accessibility. But, if you walk over to the junior high or high school building, they do not have a system.”

Superintendent Julie Bills did say that the buildings were ADA compliant when they were built.

Graham said that there is also a safety issue.

“If there is a drive-by shooting, she needs to be able to get in and she needs to be able to get out and not just her,” Graham said. “Y’all need family-style bathrooms in every one of these buildings, not just the new building. I’m talking about every bathroom. It can be a dual bathroom where teachers and staff could use it and it also be for a child in a wheelchair.”

Graham pointed out the amount of bond money in the past that has been used for other things.

“We’ve passed $11 million in bonds, that’s a lot of money for our community,” Graham said. “We have 1,200 students, so that’s a million dollars for every 100 students. You get it? We have three kids in our school right now and she’s not the first one, we’ve had two others over the past 30 to 35 years.”

Graham said she asked for a building fund report from Bills, but she never received it.

Bills said that doors have to remain locked at all times due to security reasons and cannot be left open.

“Okay, but how does she still open the door,” Graham asked.

The conversation went on to include discussions about other ADA issues before wrapping up.

Another issue brought forth by concerned parents had to do with the food being served at the elementary school.

Most of the standing-room only crowd in attendance was there for the discussion. The main spokespersons for the group were Abbie Gilmore and Cierra Evans.

“At the beginning of the school year, we had some issues with the menu not always matching up,” Evans said. “I know Abbie brought attention to it multiple times about it changing. She had to leave work and bring her kids something to eat because it was something they didn’t want. She, I guess talked to Miss Troutman and Miss Bills and they said to just send their lunch with them.”

Evans also brought up a field trip lunch that consisted of a small amount of celery and a pear that was in poor condition, which she posted on Facebook.

“My biggest concern was if a child that doesn’t go home to more food that relies solely on our school meals,” Evans said. “Abbie and I have spoken to multiple other parents who have expressed a lot of the same concerns. We all thought, you know, maybe our kids are just being picky and kind of brushed them off. Well, if you don’t want to eat what’s there, take your lunch. But there was more to it like not being in compliance with the rules and regulations to make those meals reimbursable. After speaking with (food management director) Meagan (Bowen) and Miss Bills, who spoke with an Oppa (food service) representative, they have fixed a lot of things and are making sure that all of the components that they are supposed to have on their trays are now being offered.”

Gilmore echoed Evans comments about children complaining about the food and coming home hungry.

“Why are you wanting a full meal after school,” Gilmore said. “Why are you hungry? Well, quit being so picky. You should eat your lunch. Are you talking? Are you visiting? What were you doing to not eat your lunch to be so hungry?”

It wasn’t until after the social media post they realized many other parents had been going through the same thing and felt like it needed to be addressed.”

There was a lengthy discussion about what could be done to get more food on the plates of the students even when students didn’t want a particular item.

Another issue raised was the salad bar. Students have unlimited access to the salad bar, but they have to wait if there is another class coming through the lunch line at the same time, which parents said doesn’t allow some students who want more food enough time to get it before the lunch period ends.

There was an Oppa representative present and listening to the concerns. There was a meeting set up for the following Thursday to talk to parents directly about the meals.

In other business, the board hired a new teacher and coach, Joel Scott, who will help with football, basketball and baseball. They also hired Baylee Mooney as a speech/language pathology assistant for the 2024-25 school year.

The board also agreed to a contract with Platinum Cleaning Services for part-time elementary school custodial duties.

Another item passed included new guidelines and policy for outside agency representatives interviewing children at school. The board also instructed Bills to look into the purchase of an adjoining lot to school property.