Newly elected leadership of a southwest Michigan school board is facing public resistance.
After discussing and creating several committees to oversee sex education and explicit books at its regular meeting on Monday, the Brandywine Community Schools Board of Education heard criticism from alumni, teachers, students, community members and a former superintendent.
Prior to enacting the agenda, the board rejected a motion to move public comment to the beginning of the meeting, as well as a motion to move a two-hour Board Governance Workshop until after public comment. This action elicited an audible groan from many in the 150-person audience, which in turn prompted a warning from board President Thomas Payne.
Throughout the meeting, there were several audience outbursts directed at four new board members – Payne, Vice President Elaine McKee, Secretary Angela Seastrom and Trustee Michelanne McCombs – – each of whom are supported by We The Parents and the 1776 Project PAC.
The 1776 Project PAC is a conservative political action organization “dedicated to electing school board members nationwide who want to reform our public education system by promoting patriotism and pride in American history,” according to its website. The PAC is also focused on stopping Critical Race Theory – a set of ideas holding that racial bias is inherent in many parts of western society – from being taught in schools.
We The Parents is a faith-based political organization that believes parents have the fundamental right to direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. It has pledged to “fight to remove all forms of woke politics (i.e. sexual, racial, political and gender indoctrination) from our schools,” according to its website.
During the meeting, board members commented on the explicit nature of several unnamed books in the library.
“Some of the stuff in the school library is absolutely disgusting,” Payne said. “In the corporate world, we have to go through sexual harassment training and if I distributed some of these materials to other adults, I would be reprimanded or maybe even fired.”
Trustee McCombs asked all attendees under the age of 18 leave the meeting as she prepared to read the explicit content in some of the district’s books. She ultimately did not read the material.
Watch video highlights of the meeting below:
Action the board took included creating the following committees:
- Curriculum Committee
- Sex Education Advisory Board
- Tutoring Advisory Board
- Parent/Community Involvement Committee
- Parent/Guardian Curriculum Transparency Committee
- Explicit Material Book Review Committee
An agenda item to halt any new additions to the library was tabled.
Pushback
While the new board members were voted into office by a majority in November, the majority of speakers Monday were opposed to the new board leadership.
Among alumni speakers were Ambrosia Neldon and Jasmine LaBine, who formed Facebook group Brandywine Alumni, Parents, and Educators for Educational Freedom in response to the new district leadership and fears of the new agenda they may be pushing. In less than a week, the group has almost 400 members.
“Brandywine’s new vision statement is ‘Engage, Educate and Empower Tomorrow’s Global Citizens,” said Neldon, during public comment. “We must teach our children not what to think, but how to think. By restricting the information our students have access to, you would be teaching them to be closed-minded, and stripping them of their ability to think critically.”
Not all speakers were against the new board members, however.
Ryan Candler, a parent of Niles Community Schools students and Brandywine district resident, spoke about school indoctrination attempts and restricting LGBTQ materials throughout schools. Renee Peddie, a We The Parents candidate who lost in the St. Joseph School Board race, spoke in favor of school board action to restrict books and materials they view as explicit.
Watch highlights of the public comment below:
Former Brandywine Superintendent and current district resident John Jarpe Ed.D., told the new school board on he was “heartsick” watching the meeting, but thinks the board can still get on track.
“I have faith that if you … conduct your board meetings the way you should, I think you got a chance,” Jarpe said. “If you don’t, and I come back and see a meeting like this again, I am going to be even sicker at heart for a school that I love dearly.”
Jarpe, an educator of 46 years – including stints as St. Joseph High School Principal and Watervliet Interim principal – asked the board to promote school culture, or teachers and students might start leaving the district.
He offered his help, offering to sit down and chat with any board member who wants his seasoned advice.
Jarpe’s full comments can be seen below:
Two current students, as well as a 2022 graduate, separately shared their feelings on why they topics like proper sex education, inclusivity and thought diversity were important for their fellow students.
Another district parent, Terry Frick, said he had his concerns about explicit content in books, and suggested having parental consent for individual books in the library. Ultimately, he called for unity and individual liberty.
“I don’t think that anybody up here has any ill will toward the kids,” said Frick, of the board. “When I come up here, I’m not coming with any hate for anyone … live and let live.”
By Ryan Yuenger
ryany@wsjm.com
