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For weeks, there has been talk of the closure of several schools within the Dallas County School District.

On Thursday, the members of the Dallas County School board met to discuss their board agenda items, but before the meeting began its agenda, board member M. Flanagan-Brown told the audience filled with parents, staff and several Dallas County students that there will be no action taken on any closure of schools until further notice.

During the public comment section of the meeting where community speakers could speak, there were 10 members of the community ranging from parents, teachers and just community members eager to share their perspective about their involvement with the Dallas Co. school system.

The first speaker was Crystal Hosea, who was a parent of a child attending Martin Middle School where she said her child had a negative experience at the school earlier this year with another child’s parent, which led to other negative experiences following after which involved a teacher on school grounds posing a threat to her child.

During her three-minute discussion with the board, she shared more details publicly to the board and the public about her child’s situation that left her with safety concerns about the school and the concerns of the administration taking accountability.

“A lot of times the word ‘accountability’ is used by Mr. Sampson,” said Hosea. I expect you all the same way you’ll look to us to be accountable for our children getting to school to our children behaving at school. I really urge all of you to be accountable for your administrative staff as well but this is unacceptable.”

Hosea went on to tell the board that she thinks the matter with her child needs to be addressed because she said if it doesn’t and they consolidate the schools that are among closure, that this will be a problem not only with her child but remain a constant issue for others.

Board president Flanagan told Hosea that the superintendent will be getting with her alongside his team to resolve the matter.

Like Hosea, Melody Wesley, who is another parent who had children that went to Valley Grande Elementary School and now has kids enrolled into J.E. Terry Elementary school, talked about the multiple concerns that she has with the school system and her positive outlook with J.E. Terry.

“My concerns are in many different areas and of course, one is, I know you’ll have addressed is that no schools will be closing, which is great until further notice. Yes, that’s fine,” said Wesley.  “But, there are a few things that you’ll need to take in accountability before you’ll do decide that when that, when that time does come. Number one is the ratio of your classrooms. By Alabama State law, the ratio of classrooms is 18 to 20 but it is supposed to legally be 18.  So, even if you merge the schools, you are still going to be over that 20 ratio, which is way over limit for one teacher which means students that get individual help and one on one time with teachers is not going to get that help.”

Wesley went on to speak to the board about her child’s experience attending Valley Grande Elementary and brought up safety concerns and an incident where her child was threatened by another student, who told her child that he/she would bring a loaded weapon to the school.

“I took it to the person in charge and it was never taken care of,” Wesley said.  I addressed it three more times and it was still never taken care of and that is a problem. It’s a safety issue, a big safety issue. I know everybody watches the news and sees what happens. Children should be made to feel safe, especially when they’re away from their parents in these areas.”

Like Hosea and Wesley, multiple parents and teachers after, expressed their concerns and their gratefulness for J.E. Terry Elementary School and how they feel it should remain open and not closed for other reasons by the board.

Despite the community voicing their concerns and their wishes behind the topic of the closures, the board heard the community members and still decided to pause any action taken regarding the subject matter.