Parents and residents press Forest Hills board on books, staffing, mental‑health and LGBTQ concerns

The Forest Hills Board of Education heard more than a dozen public commenters at its May meeting, with remarks ranging from curriculum and book content to staffing practices, website mental‑health resources and concerns about harassment of LGBTQ students.

Public commenter Jared Jakobowski opened the comment period by sharply criticizing recent trends in public education, saying, "Schools are the problem," and arguing that curriculum priorities have shifted away from academic rigor. Several parents raised concerns about inconsistent staffing at the high‑school level and said communication from schools has been insufficient.

A resident objected to the availability of the book Refugee at an elementary book fair and read passages she described as violent, urging the board to act on age‑appropriate curation. Another commenter (speaker identified as 6 in the transcript) asked whether the board had been consulted before posting district mental‑health resources online and requested information on counselors' professional licenses and malpractice insurance.

Dawn Reprack, a community member, disputed statements minimizing the district's LGBTQ population, cited national statistics and urged the board to oppose harassment and misinformation: "If you remain silent about the bullying of our current FH students, you're complicit," she said. By contrast, Michelle Van Osberg praised Central Woodlands, named Principal Amy Burton Major and praised the Lionheart assembly as a positive social‑emotional learning experience for students.

Speakers also asked for follow‑up on finance packet items: a resident named Scott requested detailed specifications and warranties for the planned $710,000 device purchase and asked what would happen to retired equipment. The board closed public comment, said administrators would follow up with individuals who requested it, and proceeded to adjourn the meeting.