Statement From Johnston Community School District Board President

Press release from the Johnston Community School District:

December 15, 2021

"Thanks to those of you who contacted me directly about the December 13 board meeting.

I know and believe the slurs spoken by a parent at Monday’s meeting are hateful. She did not need to use them at the public meeting, and I believe she chose to due to shock value.

If anyone would use a slur towards a person or group of people at a meeting, I would stop that behavior. On Monday, a parent used her public comment time to argue against the inclusion of a book in our curriculum and chose to speak the slur terms written in the book aloud. Her comment was related to the board’s business of the evening. Again, I think her choice was wrong and I do not endorse her choices expressed in her words, during her personal comment.

This was a truly shocking moment for me as board president. I don’t think the board’s public comment policy anticipated this sort of behavior. I reacted by calling a short recess and I hear that you wanted me to react differently in that moment. I will continue to listen to comments and seek advice from individuals I trust about how to do better in the future. To start, the board’s policy committee will review the public comment policy and I will ask them to consider specifically prohibiting slurs and expletives in any context".

Sincerely,

Katie Fiala
JCSD Board President

This press release was produced by the Johnston Community School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.