Hopkins 270 Blog

On May 30, 2024 a transgendered student at Hopkins High School (“HHS”) was violently assaulted by another student after an altercation in a gendered bathroom. This incident was covered up by the school administration for nearly a week, with parents and the community notified only after a public demonstration was scheduled in front of the high school. This was the last in a series of violent physical altercations at HHS over several months, and resulted in national news coverage and a lot of questions about school safety. This incident led me to inquire about the history of issues with students in the LGBTQ+ / gender expansive community, how the administration was responding to protecting that community, and responding to increased violence in the schools.

Prior to this event, my wife and I had been regularly frustrated by the actions of this administration. Yet, like many I presume, we felt that we owed it to the district administration and school board to give them the opportunity to implement changes based on what we presumed to be rational, evidence-based developments in education.

But for me, the May 30 assault at HHS and the administration’s failed response was the straw for me. I felt that I had to speak up about my concerns for the first time, which I did at the June 11, 2024 School Board Meeting.

At the June 11 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed presented her views of the May 30 incident, school safety, and “restorative practices.” I will address her specific comments in detail in a separate post, but to say the least, I found myself to be extremely frustrated and driven to take a deeper dive into where she is taking the district as superintendent, the evidentiary support for her positions, and any potential concerns that should be publicly addressed.

My exploration over the following four weeks have been illuminating and deeply concerning. That has led to my decision to publicly address my thoughts and criticisms here.