"Our first priority is the safety of Kennewick School District students and staff." That goal was created by the Kennewick School Board. However, the recently passed board policy disallowing noncurricular clubs access to school media, and their suspension of contracts that pay for club advisers, sent the message they think most students should feel safe at school, and that most students should participate in extracurricular activities.

By passing this ill-conceived policy, the board said they are willing to jeopardize all noncurricular student involvement to prevent involvement by a few students. They also, perhaps unwittingly, made students who want to form a gay-straight alliance club, vulnerable to harassement by students who might blame them for not being allowed to use school media to advertise their own clubs.

This recent unanimous vote by the school board (now scheduled for reconsideration) sent the wrong message. Part of keeping students safe is teaching and modeling tolerance. No matter how a teacher, administrator or school board member feels personally, they have a responsibility to keep all students safe and to make them feel part of the school community.

If you want all students, not just "most" students, to feel welcomed and safe at school, I urge you to let the Kennewick School Board members know how you feel.

Mary Shaw, Kennewick