This week was the first time I delivered a speech to my local school board since I graduated in 2020, and it’s the first time I delivered a speech as the youngest candidate for the VA House of Delegates in the history of the commonwealth.
Unfortunately, the reason for the speech wasn’t a positive one. The Virginia Beach City Public School Board had a proposed resolution in their meeting agenda that would force teachers to send home permission slips before students can read or discuss in-class novels in order to transition to a total book banning later on. It also would email parents every and any time they check a book out at the library. Immediately I thought about the people I went to school with, the ones who used resources from their school library to discover themselves, and I knew I had to do what I could to raise awareness and kill this resolution to protect our most vulnerable from being outed by their school board. As a gay student and alumni of the VBCPS system, I was sickened at the worst-case yet still guaranteed reality of a world where this resolution passes.
Students need intentioned support and rehabilitative/occupational services for special needs students need significant amping, in my past 15 years as a student this has literally always been true everywhere I went. We know what issues students actually face, and it’s disheartening they are being ignored to discuss topics like this, it is not representative of our district and I hope to see full support for all students in the near future, and to see structural changes in how we serve our students with exceptional circumstances.
My speech was met with significantly positive backing from folks in the community and through the linked tweet. I have been before that school board countless times for state awards and recognition, but feeling the vibes shift when I am there with more analytic or critical things to say. I intend on continuing to make these waves throughout the community. If there is one thing my generation can do it is rallying behind what we believe and with more support on my newly drawn district from the youngest voters can create the momentum I need to flip my seat.
I know fights in school boards are happening like this nationally, and I know that all over the place people are getting away with letting hateful rhetoric and legislation pass that hurts the quality of life for our students. It’s a sad but true reality and it’s happening because of the republican’s focus on local seats in past years. I saw several family/community members speak in affirmation to this resolution calling queer relationships pornography, and trying to hide a large marginalized community from their children. This November is a perfect opportunity to shake things up. The following November will be a spark of change in my district and my commonwealth as the entire House of Delegates is up for re-election.
My name is Zach Coltrain, I am a 20 year old college music student, and I am running for the VA House of Delegates in VA98. Help me spread a message of support for students, and for every community within my district. Below are links to my website and ActBlue page, my opponent is a millionaire unbothered by the status quo and with your help we can flip the seat in 2023.
Transcript of speech:
“Good Afternoon, Superintendent Spence and the school board, My name is Zach Coltrain and I am a recent alumni of SES, PAMS AND LSA FCHS, and I represent vbcps as the youngest candidate in state history to file for the house of Delegates, and I cite my time with supportive staff as to where I get my advocacy abilities. I come here virtually from my university to speak with you all.
I am going to take the proposed “parental rights” resolution in parts for the rest of my time.
To start with the following
“Whereas the single most important indicator of student success is parental involvement”
When I began looking at the research of the National PTA and The National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education the findings had me convinced there was nothing wrong with the proposed statement from the resolution. However, using just the slightest bit of context from the past 13 years of my life and the past 2 years in higher education I can tell you first hand as a student that this is a logical fallacy. Passing legislation that cements the importance and priority of parental involvement disregards any and all students whose parents can’t make that commitment to education. The very purpose of the public school system is that we can have a place where everyone is granted the opportunity to learn regardless of background, class, or status. Singling out students whose parents can't prioritize their children's education standards at all times is a sad but true result of some of the economic disparity issues within our community.
Shifting into the resolving action of the legislation, point B asks that all schools require a signature before any book is distributed in class. Looking at how many issues arise from permissions slips for field trips, federal cards, beginning of the year paperwork stacks, and all else. Teachers do not need the extra work, students don’t need the extra responsibility, and parents certainly do not need to be the reason a student loses educational value from their teacher and classroom because a piece of paper gets stuck in a students backpack. This is not practical.
Point 3, oh boy, Virginia Beach City Public Schools shall develop a system where parents receive an email when their students check out a book from the library. The email will contain a link to websites where parents can vet the books checked out. Without rehashing the fact that no one needs or wants this that shows up in the schools each and every day , I want to highlight the absolute necessity of protecting students wanting to learn about personal, academic or any other topic of importance. Students who read a book about being queer or wanting to skii makes no difference. I came out at the age of 12, because my school made me feel comfortable enough to discover and display that about myself, and I had options to freely discover in and out of school figure out myself. I grew up reading the personal accounts and the data statistics of suicide in depression in lgbt youth when outed to unsupportive family. I knew I was lucky enough to be safely me at home, but plenty of people did, don’t, and won’t have that luxury. Forcing students into that situation can compromise quality of life dramatically. This resolution creates that scenario guaranteed. This resolution does nothing to better education standards for students, it creates logistical nightmare-level obstacles, and it risks the safety of some of VBCPS’ most vulnerable students. I strongly urge you all to vote down this mess.”