McGuffey parents speak out
CLAYSVILLE – A warning from the school board’s solicitor concerning respectful speech during the public comment portion of Thursday’s McGuffey School District’s board meeting did not stop one participant from speaking his mind.
A man was escorted from the meeting by the school police chief after telling board members, “You are promoting sodomy in our schools.”
He declined to be identified.
The school district has been in the national spotlight after reports emerged claiming students were being bullied and harassed for supporting members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
On April 16, members of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance observed a day of silence to bring attention to the bullying of gay students in school. The backlash that followed included accounts of physical altercations, name-calling and photos on social media showing several boys in flannel shirts, promoting an “Anti-Gay Day.”
Since the allegations, the district released statements claiming reports were inaccurate and embellished, and parents from both sides of the argument alleging students were being bullied.
A statement on the agenda of Thursday’s meeting was read before public comment.
“All public speakers are expected to treat each other and the board of directors with respect. In matters of disagreement, speakers should model for our students how one can respectfully disagree with others’ views. Inappropriate, irrelevant or offensive remarks shall be ruled out of order, and the continuation of such remarks will result in the speaker being asked to leave the meeting.”
Donegal Township resident Peggy McConn was visibly shaken while addressing the board. She said students accused of being part of the anti-gay day were still being punished by the district.
“Don’t tell my kid he can’t say ‘I don’t believe in this.’ This is wrong,” she said. “This is a subject adults can’t agree on. How can we expect teenage kids to agree on it?”
McConn said students were being called to the principal’s office for expressing their beliefs and several members of the Future Farmers of America club accused of being part of the anti-gay movement were intentionally excluded from a school photo.
After the man was removed from the meeting, South Franklin Township resident Shannon Moore cried as she addressed the board.
“My daughter was bullied and called a ‘faggot.’ I think it’s your job to protect all of these kids. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that,” she said. “If religion teaches bullying against people who are different than you, you have a different version of the Bible than I have.”
Board members did not comment after the public had spoken. President Carl Group read a statement at the onset of the meeting.
“As a board, we review and adopt policy to ensure an environment where all children and employees, regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy and or handicap/disability have an equal opportunity to achieve their maximum potential through the programs offered in our schools…” Group said. “As previously stated, our administration and school police officers have followed district procedures to investigate any and all allegations. They have interviewed all children directly involved in these allegations and met with both students and parents to answer questions they can legally answer in an attempt to continue collaborative efforts to ensure a safe, productive school environment for all children.”