2025 School Board VoteDelaware Questionnaire Responses: Devon Hynson

1. Our country’s history is incomplete without acknowledging the legacy of discrimination and lived experiences of historically marginalized communities. Additionally, Delaware passed a law in 2021 requiring schools to develop and incorporate an African American curriculum for K-12 public schools. Nonetheless, some schools have adopted curricula which fail to teach the full history of the treatment of marginalized communities. Do you commit to adopting curricula which include the perspectives and full histories of all historically marginalized communities?

YES
I believe it is important for students to understand the historical and lived experiences of all people, including marginalized groups. It is essential to adopt curricula the diverse perspectives in order to foster an inclusive learning environment. This approach also promotes critical thinking and empathy. By integrating these narratives, we teacher tolerance, acceptance and create a more equitable society, through empowering future generations celebrate our shared humanity.

2. Book bans in school libraries are misguided attempts to suppress student ability to explore ideas, encounter new perspectives, and learn to think for themselves. These efforts target LGBTQ+ identities and censor discussions about how gender and sexuality impact people’s daily lives under the guise that such topics are not age appropriate. Will you commit to protecting students’ ability to see themselves represented in the books they’re reading?

YES
Yes, I commit to protecting and promoting students' ability to see themselves represented in the books they read. Representation in literature is essential for fostering a sense of belonging, identity, and understanding for all students.

3. The 2023-2024 School Discipline Improvement Plan (SDIP) emphasizes the need to address the disproportionate discipline of Black students, low-income students, male students, and students with disabilities. Schools listed under SDIP are required to submit corrective plans. How will you work with your district to eliminate excessive, unjust, and exclusionary disciplinary practices?

Addressing and eliminating excessive, unjust, and exclusionary disciplinary practices is crucial for fostering a positive and equitable school environment. Addressing and eliminating excessive, unjust, and exclusionary disciplinary practices is crucial for fostering a positive and equitable school environment. Here are several strategies to work with the district to achieve this goal:

1. Repeated policy review and adherence to the principles of due process
2. Promote the adoption of MTSS throughout the district, k-12, academic and social emotional learning
3. Expand positive behavior supports and incentives
4. Expand and create high impact training when it comes to discipline and compliance
5. Ensure each student receives a copy of the code of conduct
6. Ensure every student receives an explanation of the code and give signed acknowledgement of understanding
7. Expand training related best disciplinary practices and peer researched discipline\ary approaches

4. Research shows that the presence of police officers also known as school resource officers (SROs) can lead to disparate discipline for Black and brown students. As a school board member, would you oppose adopting or continuing to implement school safety plans which include the use of SROs?

YES
As a school board member, my stance on school safety plans, including the use of School Resource Officers (SROs), would be carefully considered based on a range of factors, including the community's needs, research on the effectiveness of SROs, and alternative safety measures. If there is strong evidence indicating that SROs contribute to negative outcomes, such as the school-to-prison pipeline, and that they do not significantly enhance school safety or climate, I would be inclined to explore alternatives that prioritize restorative practices, mental health resources, and community-based safety programs.

Additionally, I would advocate for engaging with students, parents, and educators to gather their perspectives on safety measures. If the consensus is against SROs, I would support efforts to reevaluate and potentially transition to investing in resources that promote a positive and inclusive school environment.

5. How would you ensure that budgets and other resources are equitably distributed to serve high-needs students (i.e. English language learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income households) across a school district and that those financial decisions are more transparent?

Ensuring equitable distribution of budgets and resources for high-needs students is essential for fostering an inclusive educational environment. As a school board member, I would employ several strategies to achieve this goal, such as; data driven decision making, equity audits, to include opportunity grant funding and special education apportionments, community engagement, transparent budgeting process and collaboration with our local politicians.

6. A December 2023 independent report, commissioned by the State of Delaware as a result of education funding litigation brought by the ACLU, found that public schools across the state are underfunded by at least $600 million dollars and recommended increased per-pupil funding, transparency, and the flexibility to allocate resources. What would you propose to ensure districts close the funding deficit to provide a constitutionally adequate education?

Closing the funding deficit to ensure districts provide a constitutionally adequate education is a critical challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are several strategies I would propose to address this issue:

Address the changes related to the most recent funding updates such as the comprehensive funding assessment, to assess the current funding formulas and sources to identify gaps and shortfalls. In addition I would support and advocate for funding changes to more appropriately align with the districts needs. Most importantly I would identify public-private partnerships to augment local revenue streams and additional grant competitive or discretionary grant funds to address shortfalls.

7. School Districts such as Red Clay Consolidated and Christina have implemented policies to create a culture in which transgender and gender diverse students feel safe, supported, and fully included by assuring access to the curriculum, social events, clubs, athletic participation, and all other basic curricular and extracurricular activities. Will you commit to adopting or expanding policies in your school district which ensure that LGBTQ+ students are fully included in social events, clubs, athletic participation, and all other basic curricular and extracurricular activities?

YES
I am absolutely committing to adopting policies that ensure LGBTQ+ students are fully included in any publicly funded opportunity provided to other students throughout our schools. In addition I am committing to fully engaging the LGBTQ+ communities through forum style conversations to engage in robust conversations related to the protections of their rights. Most importantly I will find opportunities to strengthen RCCSD board policy 8005 which addresses transgender and diverse students.

8. Immigrant students and their families have the right to access public education without fear of discrimination or intimidation. Will you support a district-wide policy that protects students’ personal information (including immigration status), provides clear guidance on interacting with ICE, and ensures staff, students, and families are aware of relevant state, school, and community resources?

YES
I will support district-wide and uniform policies, which include education related to immigration and interacting with ICE. More specifically I support implementing preparedness plans for our most vulnerable students, increase access to mental health/psychological services, expanded training on McKinney-Vento, expanded training related to FERPA and promote increased access to support groups.

9. When staff, students, and families know what the law says, they are better equipped to protect themselves and the school community. Will you support distributing Know Your Rights resources—specifically related to immigrant and LGTBQ+ protections—in classrooms, offices, school websites and communications, and other easily accessible locations?

YES
Yes as previously stated, I will support district-wide and uniform policies, which include education related to immigration and interacting with ICE, as well as training opportunities related to the LGBTQ+ community. More specifically I support implementing preparedness plans for our most vulnerable students, increase access to mental health/psychological services, expanded training on McKinney-Vento, expanded training related to FERPA, expanded training on ADA, IDEA and promote increased access to support groups.

10. Over the past few decades, many immigrants have chosen to make Delaware their home and have become vital members of our schools. Will you ensure that students and families with limited English proficiency have access to translated classroom materials and in-person translators for school meetings and events?

YES
Ensuring that students and families with limited English proficiency (LEP) have access to translated classroom materials and in-person translators for school meetings and events is essential for building an inclusive educational environment. All the while balancing the need for students to effectively become proficient in English. Here are some actionable steps that could be taken to achieve this goal;

1. Continuing the existing policies of hiring additional staff however making sure the teachers are more than consult and impact student learning as a direct service
2. Expanded training for staff and encouraging additional language learning
3. Develop language access plans nearly synonymous with an IEP to make proficiency targeted and highly prescriptive
4. Constant progress monitoring of plan implementation and student progress