A newly formed group, Support Widefield Students, is gathering signatures for their IHOP petition — Demand for Inclusive Education. This petition calls on the Widefield School District to take immediate, concrete actions to ensure a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students, with a focus on enhancing special education services, protecting LGBTQ+ students, and integrating social and emotional learning into the curriculum. Read the full text of the petition here.
The petition is a response to the recent IHOP scandal surrounding some of the Widefield school board members. Read more about the scandal here.
Support Widefield Students is a coalition of concerned citizens, parents, educators, and school staff members who believe that the school board must disavow hateful comments allegedly made by some of the school board members, and they must do more to meet the diverse needs of the district’s student population.
The petition outlines specific demands, including adequate funding and staffing for special education programs, mandatory LGBTQ+ inclusivity training for school staff, the creation of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students, and the integration of social and emotional learning across all grade levels. Support Widefield Students will actively canvass in specific areas within the district, host community events, and engage with local organizations to raise awareness about the petition and gather signatures.
“We believe that every student in Widefield deserves a safe, supportive, and affirming educational experience,” said Desiree Cooper, WEA Co-President and a teacher in the district. “This petition is our way of holding the school board accountable to the values of equity and inclusion that they claim to uphold.”
The group plans to gather signatures up until the October board meeting, where they intend to present the petition and demand a formal commitment from the board to implement the outlined changes.