Belleville Mayor: ‘Our children are watching’ all this turmoil

At the end of the Feb. 1 regular meeting of the Belleville City Council, Mayor Kerreen Conley read a prepared statement on the turmoil in the Van Buren Public Schools.
“When it starts to affect businesses in our community … I had to speak out,” Mayor Conley said. “A lot of negative things have happened in the last couple of weeks.”
Mayor Conley read: “I could not leave tonight without saying a few words about recent activities in and around our community. Because it is about our community. It’s not just about a teacher, a principal, a school, an incident, a school board, a superintendent, a child, a friend, a mother, brother, a sister or a father or a business owner. It’s about each and every one of them.
“It’s the frustration, expectations and unanswered questions. It is about people’s lives! It’s about our community, the one we choose to live in, the one we are raising our children in, the one we do business in. Over the past several weeks we have seen a lot of things happen. In the incidents that involved our law enforcement officials, thank you for your professionalism and for your quick response. It does not go unnoticed.
“To the elected officials who were put in place to do their jobs, I feel for you as I understand there are limitations on what you can and cannot do. It is no easy task. Keep listening, remain professional, and when you can provide information, communicate it well.
“To the parents who have expressed their concerns, I thank you. It is clear we have a community that cares, a community that is passionate and one that demands to hold educators and administrators and elected officials to a higher standard because they are the ones with our most precious gifts – our children, my children.
“To everyone, this is a great community. I have hated to see the personal attacks on people, the suggestion to boycott businesses in this community. Let’s remember that there are a lot of lives impacted by what has occurred over the last several weeks. Let’s remember to respect people’s differences. Let the facts, not the emotions be what guides us to good decisions.
“Our children are watching. What would you want them to see?” she concluded.