A recent, controversial social media post has proven to be divisive.
Social media has been awash with opinions, a situation Supt. Jeremy Schmidt addressed in a January 27 Facebook post. In a letter addressed to Becker staff, students, families and community, Schmidt tried to lower the temperature while acknowledging that emotions were running high. He called on everyone to resist “stereotyping, generalizing, or turning one moment into a blanket judgement.” He called for unity, “We can demand accountability without abandoning decency. We can insist on high standards without tearing each other apart.” Above all, he wanted to remind everyone of the school’s mission, “…help us lower the temperature and protect what matters the most: OUR CHILDREN, THEIR LEARNING, and THEIR SAFETY.”
Public Forum
Given the controversy, it was surprising that only one concerned resident spoke during the February 2, 2026, meeting. Emily Jenkins, who later identified herself as a concerned mother of twin first-graders, read from prepared remarks in support of teachers with targeted criticism of students.
“We are witnessing teens trade the sanctity of the classroom for the cheap currency of a viral moment,” she said. “We hear loud voices from those with no business teaching our children about ethics, yet who feel entitled to destroy an educator’s career. It is time we stand firm in the default position of supporting our teachers.”
Later, Jenkins spoke about the need for mutual respect in the classroom.
“Mutual respect requires a willingness to be uncomfortable, to approach diversity of thought with curiosity, not combat,” she concluded.
Sarah Colford, president of the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, a former student, and parent of children in the district, was surprised by the low turnout and remained hopeful that constructive discussions would be held soon. Though she did not speak at the meeting, she did send a statement to this reporter that acknowledged that the video between a teacher and her students, “is multifaceted and we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge all of the parts of it.
“It’s hard to know the intentions of this video and the reason it was posted to social media before being sent to the school, but I’m not going to assume anything and I’m asking you to do the same.”
Acknowledging different perspectives, Colford used a story from her Native American background about a wise woman who used a drum to unite Native peoples divided by settlers. The Dakota woman gave the drum to the Ojibwe people and said, “When we fight against each other, we all lose.”
Multi-Unit Contract Signed
A tentative agreement with Becker’s Multi-Unit team was reached in October 2025 and formally ratified when the board approved the consent agenda.
When asked to comment on the agreement, Schmidt wrote, “We appreciate the collaborative work that went into reaching this agreement in a timely manner and the School Board’s approval. Our multi-unit team is important to the daily success of our schools, and we are thankful for their dedication to our students and community.”
Other News
• Also on the consent agenda, a resolution was passed that allowed the Superintendent to consider discontinuing positions and programs for the next school year;
• The district is required by state statute to establish the AIPAC to serve in an advisory role and to submit annual compliance to be submitted to the Commissioner of Education by March 1, 2026. That compliance was approved by the board.
