Since the “Fire McCann” walkout on Feb. 6 in response to allegations of McCann’s inappropriate texting with students, a new movement has begun to take shape. The group calls itself “Students for Justice” and is organized by similar people to the walkout. The organizers identified themselves as junior Hope Mathis, senior Dean Cook, freshman Liam Spencer, and junior Knox McCalla. McCalla is an AHS Journalist, but was previously removed from covering anything relating to recent school board issues because of an apparent affiliation with this protest movement.
Organizer Cook said in a press release to the Needle on Feb. 8 that “We are a group of like-minded individuals who feel the district/board needs to be held accountable for the given situation.” That situation is the speculation around the unapproved resignation of Jesse McCann. Students for Justice members have alleged child abuse and other wrongdoings against the ACSD High School Student Support Coordinator, McCann. While it is known that a DHHS and BOEE investigation was conducted into an AHS staff member, no connection between the investigation and McCann has been officially made.
The group’s goal is to “have the board held accountable,” according to Cook. Students for Justice intends to do this by putting “pressure” on the board in the form of protest. Most of the organization’s members already participated in the Feb. 6 walkout. Many of the group’s concerns stem from their belief that the school board has not taken proper action against McCann. Another goal they hope to achieve is to see more “precautions put into place so this doesn’t happen again.” It is unclear what these precautions are meant to be.
The organization hopes to achieve this through continued protests. The group intends to be present at the Feb. 11 board meeting, where they plan to voice their concerns during the public comment space, as well as request additional time for their own questions. The questioning procedure for the ACSD School Board can be found here. It is unknown how many Students for Justice members intend to be present, but the organization itself claims upwards of twenty members.
