Add to Public Comments Message Board / Request to Speak 12/12/2023

[Luckie Daniels]

Please post the following to the LAPS Public Comments Message Board and add me, Luckie Daniels, to public comments section of the agenda on 12/12/2023. Thank you - Luckie Daniels

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“While the District denies the claims that have been made, we are unable to comment further on pending litigation,” the email states. “The Los Alamos Public Schools is committed to nondiscrimination and works to ensure our educational environment is free from harassing or discriminatory conduct.” - LAPS District Superintendent Jennifer Guy

Without question, the public statements of LAPS District Superintendent Jennifer Guy and School Board President Antonio Jaurigue in response to my recently filed Civil Rights lawsuit citing Los Alamos Public Schools District administrators and school board members for Title VI, Title VII and Breach of Contract violations, is disappointing.

We are well beyond the point where blanket, boilerplate public statements from District leaders are sufficient. 

Though Superintendent Guy states “The Los Alamos Public Schools is committed to nondiscrimination and works to ensure our educational environment is free from harassing or discriminatory conduct.”, a box of 1,792 historical communications and documents exchanged over the past 15 months between myself and various District administrators, board members and personnel, reflect a different picture.

When my daughter Jaiya Devi and I arrived in Los Alamos in June of 2022, we were happy to return home to New Mexico after being away in Arizona for a year, and excited for Jaiya to attend Los Alamos High School where we believed she would thrive both academically and athletically.

What we encountered from the start was an isolated community uncomfortable with [and at times intolerant of] its new Black neighbors, and a school district resistant to recognize, acknowledge and accept its responsibility to provide Equity to everyone in its community.

Racism is often easily distinguished (i.e. a white person who doesn't like people of color; someone who makes their hatred and ignorance very obvious). However harder to see and understand are the daily impacts of Systemic Racism in our lives, systems that rely on subtle and not so subtle biases against people of color to disempower us and put us at risk. Systemic Racism makes everything a "fight", job opportunities, safety from violence, equal education, freedom from medical racism, EVERYTHING. 

Systemic Racism is upheld not by how you love or don't love people of color but by how you participate within its systems. 

Los Alamos Public Schools District has a Systemic Racism problem. From the few community members willing to discuss this truth, to the 30+ attorneys (and the ACLU) I've sought counsel from to the District's own Strategic Analysis (Challenges > Racism; page 19), it is well known LAPS has a historic challenge with understanding and affording equity to students and community members who exist outside of the majority margin.

For District leadership to deny publically what they have openly acknowledged countless times in private [and on via written communications] is both irresponsible and negligent; failing the students, parents and community who need to observe from leaders the behaviors they are being expected to model.

How can it possibly be lost in translation that the work and honesty required to execute Equity, must begin with LAPS leaders not only celebrating District academic wins, but also owning its failures, blindspots and areas for immediate growth? 

In the months ahead, as my lawsuit progresses through District Court, Los Alamos community members will learn more about what life here has been like for me and my amazing daughter. I believe you will come to see how long and how hard I worked for a lawsuit and courtroom NOT to be the final answer.

It should not require predominately white, male-governed authoritative bodies to "affirm" the wrongs and suffering happening to people perceived by the majority as vulnerable before people believe and care enough to begin the work of creating Equity change in this community.

I am the only Black parent speaking out TODAY, but does anyone reading this truly believe this experience has only happened to me and Jaiya? Are you not aware of the Black families who have moved here, only to leave because of the way they've been treated in Los Alamos?

Am I the only marginalized person in Los Alamos who has been discriminated against? No, I have observed LGBTQIA+, Special Needs, Religious and other Race/Ethnic discrimination occurring here as well.

With respect to me, countless discrimination complaints have been made since September 2022. There are multiple, multi-agency investigations in progress. An 84 page Civil Rights lawsuit citing 11 allegations has been filed that has 1,792 pages of historical, timestamped documents associated with it. 

Will you only believe my complaint and the struggles contained within it are real when outside authorities (who look like you) deem them so? Will you continue to allow questionable actions and wordsmithed answers to be the acceptable LAPS response? 

If Equity progress is nonexistent within the Los Alamos Public Schools District it is because those of you who witness wrong happening in this community remain silent and continue to allow it.

My daughter and I deserve the community you enjoy and thrive in freely. This is a teachable moment and our kids are watching.

For all of us, do and be better.

Luckie Daniels

[Jennifer Guy]

Received and added. 

Thank you 

On Dec 8, 2023, at 7:25 AM, Luckie Daniels <luckie...@gmail.com> wrote:



 This email has been sent from a verified laschools.net user.