Why We Are Leaving Whitehall Schools: A Parent's Perspective

As parents, we entrust our children's education to schools with the expectation that they will be supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow both academically and personally. Unfortunately, recent Whitehall Middle/High School events have made it clear that this trust has been broken.

For months, we have watched the administration, particularly Superintendent Ms. Hannah Nieskens and Principal Mr. Jason Slater, silence students and disregard their voices. The latest incident involving the Whitehall Trojans Drama Club is just one example of a disturbing pattern of censorship and administrative overreach. The students dedicated themselves to performing "I Don't Want to Talk About It", a play that tackles important issues such as bullying, mental health, and suicide-issues that are not just relevant, but critical to today's youth. Yet, despite its artistic and educational merit, the administration has barred them from performing it for their peers, citing misrepresented policies, shifting justifications, and outright misinformation.

We have sought answers and accountability, only to be met with bureaucratic roadblocks and shifting rationales. When I contacted Jefferson County Superintendent Sarah Eyer to ask about filing a formal complaint, I was met with discouragement instead of guidance. Her response? "It's very difficult. There are a lot of steps to file a complaint. To be honest, many parents give up." This is unacceptable. Parents should not be expected to "give up" when advocating for their children's education and well-being.

Beyond this, my personal experiences with the administration have eroded any trust I once had. The very first time I encountered Ms. Hannah Nieskens was at a Chamber meeting shortly after we moved to the area. She stood up to give a report of the schools and said, "There were X number of new enrollees and they are all from out of state." I knew this was false because our children were new enrollees, and we moved from Belgrade. I also knew of another family that moved from Belgrade. This left a sour taste in my mouth. Later, my child and some of their friends were being bullied by another student. They were called to Mr. Jason Slater's office and were told to be kinder to the student bullying them. Nothing, to our knowledge, was done about the bullying.

Additionally, a teacher once sent a student to the principal's office for saying they wanted to hurt themselves. The student was sent back to class, and the teacher was told, "That's just what kids say these days." How can they claim to have our children's well-being in mind when they disregard what a child says as a mandatory reporter? These lies, half-truths, and disregard for mental health are deeply troubling.

It is clear to us that Whitehall Schools are not currently a place where students' voices, creativity, or concerns are valued. Rather than fostering open discussion and critical thinking, the administration has chosen to suppress difficult conversations, prioritize outdated bureaucratic processes, and ignore the very real needs of its students.

The recent post by the U.S. Department of Education on the benefits of homeschooling only reinforces what we have realized: sometimes, the best option is to take education into our own hands. If our schools refuse to be a place where students can think critically, engage in meaningful dialogue, and express themselves freely, then we will find or create an educational environment that does.

This is not a decision we take lightly, but it is one we feel is necessary. We hope other parents will reflect on what kind of education they want for their children and consider whether Whitehall Schools truly meet that need. Our children deserve better.