Our Mission: To mobilize and support community stakeholders to ensure that all students in the Beacon City School District are provided with an excellent public education. ​more

Meet The Candidates:
BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2008-18
LET’S KEEP MOVING FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD
THEN (2008-2017)
  • Revolving door of superintendents (8 in 10 years)
  • Over $400,000 spent in contract buyouts
  • BOE voted to hire Superintendent without doing a proper search or obtaining input from the community (Jan 2015)
  • CSEA bargaining unit members working with expired contracts
  • Policy committee woefully behind in reviewing policies
  • Board members absent from meetings for months with no explanation
  • Beacon’s students received unequal programming, resources, and facilities between each of Beacon's 4 elementary schools.
  • Seriously overcrowded elementary classes with no plan or priority to remedy it.
  • Sharpe overnight canceled without notice then reinstated after parent protest
  • Opt out policy was designed to put the burden on students as young as 8 years old. Former Super. And legal counsel told kids to stand up and read statement refusing test in order to opt out.
  • In the spring of 2015, 27 teachers were transferred (20 involuntarily) via mass email
  • Lack of professional development and support for teachers and administrators
  • Lack of online and school to parent communication and many parents appeals to the BOE went unanswered or ignored
  • Few attempts at stakeholder involvement in hiring decisions and on district and school committees
  • Homework policy vague and at times not developmentally appropriate.
NOW (2017-2018)
  • Matt Landahl hired in 2017 with the help of a search firm to facilitate community input
  • Change of legal counsel
  • Created Board Goals
  • Made public comment 4 minutes so community members could feel heard
  • Negotiated all but one of the bargaining units’ contracts (one of which had been expired for 2 years)
  • Held a successful Capital Project referendum for much needed repairs to buildings
  • Added 2 new student board members to school board
  • Upped substitute pay rate
  • Hired 3 new teachers last year to keep elementary class size down
  • Initiated 1:1 chromebooks program at the 7th grade level with a plan to expand through the 12th grade
  • Started computer science at the high school through TEALS grant
  • Added an opportunity for eighth graders to take art
  • Added an elementary band position and supported the formation of BAM, a new booster club to support the music program.
  • Supported 8th grade trip to DC
  • Increased school and district communication: Superintendent and principals on Twitter; e-newsletters submitted monthly; district Facebook page active
  • Involved stakeholders in hiring committees and in district committees like wellness and technology
  • Instituted Community Conversation Tours. High school students met with regularly to get feedback
  • Working to make homework policy more specific, developmentally appropriate, and in line with National Education Association standards

DON'T FORGET:

In 2015, while Galbo was on the BOE, Walkley was confirmed as the 8th BCSD Superintendent in 10 years.  The vote was 8-1 with BOE member White being the only board member to speak out and vote against the appointment.

Submit your comments to your BOE: 
​President Anthony White: boewhite@beaconk12.org
Vice President Kenya Gadsden boegadsden@beaconk12.org 
Meredith Heuer: boeheuer@beaconk12.org
Georgia Patchen: boepatchen@beaconk12.org 
Michael Rutkoske: boerutkoske@beaconk12.org
Antony Tseng: boetseng@beaconk12.org
Bill Zopf: boezopf@beaconk12.org
Craig Wolf: boewolf@beaconk12.org
​Kristan Flynn: boeflynn@beaconk12.org

Submit your comments to your Superintendent Dr. Matt Landahl: landahl.m@beaconk12.org 
A Message from  IEP/504 Parent Support Group:
Beacon City School District
PARENTS and CAREGIVERS
of STUDENTS with
Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
or 504 plans
 
Please join us! 

​Our parent-led support group meets every third Thursday during the school year*. Come to meet other parents and caregivers, learn about your rights and responsibilities, share triumphs, struggles, tips and tricks, and hear presentations by District and area professionals. Parents with children in Early Intervention, who are just starting the IEP process, or who just want more info are welcome, too!
 
Upcoming meeting schedule (more topics TBD): click here for schedule and more

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