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Heads up! Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for Beachwood City. We found 5 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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Purchasing Social-Emotional Screening and Student Tracking Software
Under item H.6, the Board is approving a $17,772.20 contract with ‘Branching Minds’ for a ‘Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)’ software. This is a system for tracking and intervening with students academically, behaviorally, and socially. The fine print of the proposal explicitly includes ‘DESSA SEL Assessment Licenses,’ a tool used to screen and collect data on your child’s social and emotional state (e.g., self-awareness, relationship skills) without a clear process for parental consent. This system creates a psychological profile of your child, which can be used to label them for behavioral interventions based on subjective criteria.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a critical threat to student privacy and parental rights. Email Superintendent Robert Hardis at rph@beachwoodschools.org and call Board President Megan Walsh at (216) 464-2600. Demand they vote NO on Item H.6. Message: ‘We do not consent to psychological screening of our children. Vote NO on the Branching Minds contract or face a recall effort.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $17,772.20
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Codifying ‘Gender Identity’ Into District Policy
Item G.2 is the first reading of a revised ‘Non-Discrimination’ policy (Policy 2260). The new language officially adds ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation’ as protected classes. This is the foundational step for creating policies that allow the school to socially transition a child (new pronouns, new names) without parental notification or consent. It also lays the legal groundwork for allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports and use their private facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: This is a first reading, which is the best time to stop a bad policy. Call all board members at (216) 464-2600 and email Superintendent Robert Hardis at rph@beachwoodschools.org. Message: ‘I oppose adding ‘gender identity’ to Policy 2260. This violates parental rights and threatens student safety and privacy. I urge you to vote NO on Item G.2.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: N/A (Policy Change)
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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AI Transcription of Student Therapy Sessions
The district is approving a contract with KidsLink Neurobehavioral Center for consultation services (Item G.4). Buried in the fine print of the agreement is a clause stating, ‘KidsLink providers may use AI-assisted note-taking technology to… transcribe and organize conversations and notes between clients and KidsLink providers.’ This means an outside company’s Artificial Intelligence will be listening to, transcribing, and storing sensitive conversations with students. This raises enormous data privacy questions about who owns this data, how it’s secured, and whether parents can opt their children out of being recorded by an AI.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-OUT ALERT: Email Superintendent Robert Hardis at rph@beachwoodschools.org: ‘Regarding Item G.4, I demand to see the full data privacy and security agreement for the AI technology used by KidsLink. Parents must be provided with a specific opt-out form before this contract is approved.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed Service Contract
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Purchasing Politically Biased News for Classrooms
Item H.5 is an $11,900 contract with Newsela, an educational software company. Newsela provides news articles rewritten for different reading levels, but it has been widely criticized for curating content that promotes a one-sided, progressive viewpoint on political and social issues. This is not unbiased news; it is a tool for shaping student opinions on controversial topics under the guise of a reading comprehension tool, replacing real civics with ideological narratives.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email Superintendent Robert Hardis at rph@beachwoodschools.org: ‘Regarding Item H.5, I request a list of the most controversial topics Newsela provides content on and an explanation of how the district ensures ideological balance. Taxpayer money should not fund one-sided political content in the classroom.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $11,900.00
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Hiding a New ‘Wellness’ Policy from Public View
Agenda item G.2 announces the first reading of two policies: Non-Discrimination (Policy 2260) and Wellness (Policy 8510). However, the attached document only contains the text for the Non-Discrimination policy. The district has failed to provide the text for the new ‘Wellness’ policy. These policies are often used as Trojan horses for mental health screenings, SEL curriculum, or school-based clinics. Parents cannot review a policy that the district has not made public.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email Superintendent Robert Hardis at rph@beachwoodschools.org: ‘I demand that the vote on Policy 8510 under Item G.2 be postponed until the full text of the proposed policy is made public for parental review. What is the district trying to hide in this ‘Wellness’ policy?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: N/A (Transparency Violation)
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