TAMPA, Fla. — From the time the bell rang at the start of the school year, Bay area districts have been plagued with problems.
Everything from staffing issues to masking battles have led to heated debates between parents and staff.
What You Need To Know
- Staffing issues, masks battles have been contentious between Hillsborough school board and members of the public
- Though no publicly reported incidents, school board calling for stops of threats and bullying
- Hillsborough County School District whistleblower Facebook page
On Tuesday, the Hillsborough school district is taking steps it says is needed to strike a balance between parent-involvement and staff safety.
A proclamation to be read at today's school board meeting is straight forward enough, calling for a stop to threats and bullying of Hillsborough County school board members.
The problem is, there have been no publicly reported criminal threats against board members and no apparent bullying, although criticism of the school board has been ripe.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the school district for information on the alleged threats, and it couldn't supply any, saying "...providing any possible threats in writing would be a security risk."
However, many people have taken to social media pages to be critical of the school board.
In some posts, people are calling for the ousting of specific elected school board members. In others, there’s criticism of school board policies and decisions.
Jason Ferger, who runs the Hillsborough County School District whistleblower Facebook page, said this proclamation is an attempt to limit parent and community feedback.
"At the end of the day as a parent as a tax payer, it's our, almost our duty to keep our elected officials in check,” Ferger said. “And certainly bullying and threats, no one deserves it to be that. The school board specifically needs people to give them feedback. Feedback is a gift."
Ferger also said despite today's proclamation, he will not be taking his Facebook page down.