During a recent board meeting, Adam Munoz Marenciano, regional manager for the nonprofit Bolsas Unias de las Montanas, addressed critical issues affecting Latino students in the Roanoke Forest School District. Munoz emphasized the urgent need for the board and administration to acknowledge and address a significant 40% achievement gap between white and Latino students, the lack of Latino parent representation in decision-making roles, and the underrepresentation of Latino teachers, who make up only 13% of the district's teaching staff despite Latino students comprising 60% of the population.

Munoz called for a clear response from the board regarding these issues, urging them to develop comprehensive plans to tackle these disparities. He expressed frustration over the absence of detailed strategies to address the community's demands, stating that previous efforts had proven ineffective. Munoz made it clear that if the board does not recognize these issues as impactful to students' education, the community would need to consider alternative actions, including advocating for a new administration and board members who align with their needs.

The meeting then transitioned to routine business, with the board moving to approve the consent agenda, which included personnel matters and minutes from the previous meeting. The discussions highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Latino students and the community's demand for accountability and action from educational leaders.