Update on protest

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you may know by now, yesterday the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees voted to withdraw the appointment of Dr. Jane Fernandes as the new President of Gallaudet University. The immediate result of this act is the return of the campus to normal. This morning, protestors are no longer blocking the gates. While we are ready to move forward, we are also sensitive to the fact that this whole event has been stressful on every one. We all need to work together as we heal and move forward.

As always, our primary objective is your child’s safety and academic achievement. We would like to thank you all for your support and patience during this time, and for your trust in us.

I am pasting the text from four separate press releases issued by the Gallaudet University Public Relations office, below. One is the Board of Trustees announcement regarding Dr. Fernandes’ appointment, one is a statement from Dr. Jordan, one is a statement from Dr. Fernandes, and the final one is again from the Board, concerning actions that happened during the protest.

Sincerely,

Maureen Y. Burns
KDES Assistant Principal of Instruction




TO: Campus Community
FROM: Board of Trustees
DATE: October 29, 2006
RE: Board of Trustees Meeting
Today, we announce with much regret and pain that after serious deliberation in a special, all-day Executive Session of the Board of Trustees, we have voted to terminate Dr. Fernandes' appointment as President-Designate (currently effective) and President (effective beginning January 1, 2007) at Gallaudet University.
We understand the impact of this decision and the important issues that inherently arise when a Board re-examines decisions in the face of an on-going protest. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the University to terminate Dr. Fernandes from the incoming President's position. Although undoubtedly there will be some members of the community who have differing views on the meaning of this decision, we believe that it is a necessity at this point. The Board is continuing to meet to discuss transitional issues.
It has certainly been a difficult and trying time for our Gallaudet community. Now is the time for healing. The hope of the Board of Trustees is for our beloved community to come together to work for a stronger and better Gallaudet.


Statement by I. King Jordan
“The struggle during the past several months has been very painful for all of us. I am deeply troubled by the divisions among us and by the anger that overtook reason, respect, and civility.
“Now we must all come together for the sake of Gallaudet, particularly for the sake of Gallaudet's students--those who are our students now and those who will be students in the future.
“I want to thank Jane Fernandes for her dedication and courage and her standing up for what's right. I am personally saddened--for Gallaudet and for Dr. Jane K. Fernandes--that she will not have the opportunity to show Gallaudet and the world what a great president she could have been. Her vision and her plans to make that vision come to life would have guided the university we all love into a bright future. The Board of Trustees saw that promise when they selected Dr. Fernandes as president. In order to resolve the current stalemate the Board has deemed it necessary to steer a different course, and I accept their decision. Now we must all put down our weapons of words and seek to restore a sense of community.
“ In my Town Hall speech last November I said there is more that unites us than divides us. I think we lost sight of that for a time and we must work together to refocus on the core values that unite us. We should not look for a resolution to the struggle of recent months in terms of winners and losers. If we do, Gallaudet and our students will be the losers.”


Statement by Jane K. Fernandes
“It is with deep regret that I heard the Board’s decision to terminate my contract.
“I love Gallaudet University and I believe I could have made a significant contribution to its future. I hope that the Gallaudet community can heal the wounds that have been created. I trust that we all want a stronger, better, more inclusive Gallaudet where ASL and Deaf culture have been and always will be at the core of academic and community life.”


TO: Gallaudet University
FROM: Board of Trustees
DATE: October 29, 2006
RE: Statement of the Board
"The Board of Trustees respects the right of people to express their views in a peaceful manner. However, individuals who violated the law and Gallaudet University's Code of Conduct will be held accountable. We expect the University to honor its long tradition of respect for each other and property and to return to normal."

Information about School Pictures

The school pictures are coming!! We have a new photographer who will be working with us, his name is Dick Moore and he is deaf. He is a professional photographer with many years of experience. He owns his own business and is very well known.

The schedule:

Monday, October 30th
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Grades 4 – 5
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PIP & Pre-Nursery
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Grades 6 – 8
12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Photographer’s lunch break
12:45 p.m. Grades 6 – 8 group picture
1:00 p.m. Grades 4 – 5 group picture
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Stella Lee & Kellie Pagano’s classes (Grades 2-3)
3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Teachers/Staff members

Thursday, November 2nd
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Nursery classes
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PIP & Pre-K class – Steve & Bobbie Jo’s class
11:00 – 11:30 p.m. Kindergarten class (Beth & Anibelka’s class)
11:30 – 12:00 p.m. Pre-K class - Michelle & Charity’s class
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Photographer’s lunch break
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Teachers/Staff members
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Michelle V., Lisa’s class (1st graders)
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Phyllis’s class (3rd graders)
3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Teachers/Staff members

Update on protest

Parents/Guardians:

I wanted to take this time to write to you and update you on what has been happening on campus.

We have been trying hard to proceed with our normal school function after being closed for the three days two weeks ago. Although there have been challenges, our teachers and staff members did a wonderful job ensuring that our students are receiving the education they need.

As you may have seen on the internet, news, or read in the newspaper, the issue on campus has not yet been resolved. This morning, the protestors took over College Hall for a few hours and then left on their own. The College Hall building is currently open.

Also, this morning the Brentwood gate (near the Model Secondary School for the Deaf) was opened by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers and the Physical Plant employees. Shortly after the gate was opened by the DPS and PPD employees, the protestors closed it again. The University is currently working to keep that gate open. We will do our best to keep you posed on the status.

Few moments ago, there was a rumor spread all across the campus that a lock down was possible. Because the rumor was spread all across the campus, we decided to inform parents who had children at the KASP (Kendall After School Program), KARP (Kendall Athletics & Recreation Program) and CDC (Child Development Center) about the rumors. We gave parents/guardians the option of picking up their children earlier or keeping them there. All three programs (KASP, KARP & CDC) are still open and functioning as normal.

We will continue to keep you updated as soon as we learn more information.

Sincerely,

Maureen Y. Burns
Assistant Principal of Instruction

Gallaudet Protest

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Thank you for your continuous support and understanding of the current event that has made a direct impact on our school. This is a sensitive and, for some, emotional issue revolving around the current protest at Gallaudet University.

Gallaudet University has been on the news and in the newspaper daily. The impact is greater on our students because they drive by the campus daily and see events unfolding right in front of their eyes. We are sensitive to this and we want to make sure that we address this in the most appropriate way.

As a school, we are working hard to ensure that we are providing our students with both perspectives. Students are learning about what a protest means. Students are learning about how people have different beliefs and perspectives on different issues. Our students are asking many good questions and they have been sharing information from what they’ve seen on the news, internet and newspapers daily. Our teachers and staff members are doing a wonderful job of making sure that both perspectives are shared. Our school counselors and social worker have been available to meet with students who need their services.

It was unfortunate that Kendall students had to miss three days of school. Some of you have asked us about how we would make up for the missed school days. Let me explain that we already have three additional days built into our school calendar, fortunately. Therefore we won’t have to make up for those three days. However, if we have a school closing again in the future for whatever reason (snow days, etc.) then we will have to make up for any of those additional days at the end of the school year.

Due to the fact that we missed so much school last week, we have decided to suspend the special activities planned for tomorrow. Tomorrow is an early closing day and we have special activities planned for each month on the early closing days. For tomorrow, normal classes will resume from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. making up for the lost time last week.

Some of you have also asked for resources you could check for more information. There are many Web sites, including Web logs, known as blogs, and other sites available on the Internet. As with any other topic of interest, some sites are more credible than others. The following is a list of sites that, together, may help present a balanced view of the protest.

The Gallaudet University’s web address for news pertaining to the protest can be found here: http://news.gallaudet.edu/

The main website used by the protestors (who have identified themselves as the FSSA, for Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni) is: http://www.gufssa.com/

A website that posts essays and thoughts related to the protest using appropriate language and showing well thought out positions, is: www.deafdc.com

You may also check the Web sites of local media outlets, such as http://www.washingtonpost.com/, for news articles on these events.

Our goal is to ensure that students feel that this is a safe and comfortable environment where they can share their thoughts and feelings. We also strive to help them develop their emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills through activities such as those that happened today.
I would like to again assure you that we remain committed to the academic achievement of all KDES students. Our policies and guidelines pertaining to student attendance and conduct will apply throughout this time. We are also committed to maintaining ongoing communication with our families, and will keep you informed of further developments that affect the KDES campus.

Finally, I would like to take some time to thank the Family Educators for contacting families last week and ensuring that all parents/guardians received information. I would like to thank Silvia Golocovsky and her staff for making sure that all of the information were translated immediately and shared with all families as well. I would like to thank Marilyn Farmer for keeping close contact with everyone in the school. Last, but not least, I would like to thank all of the teachers and staff members in this building for their patience and support.

Sincerely,
Maureen Y. Burns
Assistant Principal of Instruction