In a Florida elementary school in Flagler County, a situation occurred where many Black students were singled out and made to attend an assembly focused on improving their standardized test scores. This incident was confirmed by the district’s acting superintendent.
According to a report by FOX 35 in Orlando, on a recent Friday, fourth and fifth-grade students were taken out of their classes and gathered in the cafeteria of Bunnell Elementary School. Several parents became aware of this assembly.
During the assembly, students who had performed well on standardized tests were brought to the front, acting as examples while teachers discussed test scores. Additionally, these students were promised restaurant gift cards as rewards for enhancing their scores.
Cheryl Massaro, the chair of the Flagler County Schools board, verified that Black students were separated during this assembly. She stated that this isolation of students should not have happened, but it did.
The district’s interim superintendent, Lashakia Moore, addressed the situation through a statement on the district’s website. After meeting with Donelle Evensen, the principal of Bunnell Elementary, Moore shed light on what led to the assembly and what actions were or were not taken before and after it.
Moore mentioned that Mrs. Evensen had no ill intentions while planning this student assembly. However, sometimes when trying to think creatively, the fundamental purpose can be forgotten. Moore stated, “While the desire to help this particular subgroup of students is to be commended, how this was done does not meet the expectations we desire among Flagler Schools.”
Continuing her statement, Moore emphasized the district’s aim for parents and guardians to be actively involved in their children’s educational progress. Since parents were not informed about the assembly or the plans to improve scores, their engagement was lacking.
Moore declared that moving forward, all schools in the district will ensure parent involvement, regardless of the student group. This effort is part of their ongoing initiatives to enhance the achievements of all students.
