Please kindly recognize this petition as Deaf community demands for the removal of 84% of WPSD Board of Trustees that do not know the true foundations of Deaf Education, American Sign Language, and Deaf Culture. It is only logical that the trustees are replaced with Deaf trustees that are fluent in American Sign Language along with knowledge in Deaf Education and ASL Linguistics.

Currently with the present WPSD's Board of Trustees from not being knowledgeable in what is culturally and educationally appropriate for Deaf children, they cannot advocate the deaf community's values or concerns as they need to. Furthermore, they have not been promoting the school Superintendent to set a respectful, caring, and professional climate for the Deaf faculty and staff.

The Superintendent Donald E. Rhoten is retiring in 2016. It is important that we immediately have transparency in the search process that involves Deaf people to ensure that WPSD selects a new effective Deaf Superintendent that will be a more valuable advocate of Deaf children and Deaf educators.