School Board meeting was full of comment on the perception of CRT

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A packed house wandered from the school boardroom all the way to the exterior of the front entrance at the July 8, regular school board meeting. When the smoke cleared there had been a lot of talk, rattling of sabres at the school board members, Karl Marx, religion, bathrooms, race and masks and threats to start their own school, or homeschool or attend private school. Speakers made accusations against teachers and teacher unions. It was a mish mash of pent up verbage. It honestly was not one of Botetourt County’s better moments. Many of the people who spoke were not parents, but community members armed with facts they said, but a Bibliography was not presented to go along with them. Some professed their Christian principles and many wore crosses. It was indeed a curious, often angry mix.

In the end, the school board adopted the preliminaries of opening school five days per week and masking up to indoor situations unless further guidance comes out from the VDOE on July 25. A diatribe or two against masks and a person from the medical field denying their effectiveness as well as denying vaccinations.

Delegate Terry Austin has written a letter to Commonwealth Education Secretary Atif Qarni as has School Board member Michelle Austin about Critical Race Theory, which is not exactly what those 27 pages of curriculum changes are but close enough for this to be considrered communism by many speakers.

The School Board made a statement read by Chairman Anna Weddle they do not support CRT.

Not a person of color was at the meeting. Four Sheriff’s Deputies were. There was a bit of intimidation going on, too as one was followed to her car and her license tag was photographed by one of the attendees at the meeting. We have a photograph to share with The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department. She took photos on site for The Botetourt Bee. We are not sharing her name due to safety concerns.

Two people spoke in support of transgender students. Dr. Jonathan Russ, School Superintendent stated the policy the schools have been using regarding bathrooms will continue to be used and they will not follow bathroom changes from VDOE, which fortunately is allowed.

Hopefully, Governor Northam and Secretary Qarni will answer Michelle Austin’s letter. In it she noted only two people of 36 on the Commission that came up with the curriculum changes were from this area of the state and none west of Roanoke. Two were actually from out of state. She asked for clarification in the letter as to why this area was not better represented and asked for written responses, She wrote on behalf of the constituents of Botetourt County. It was a good letter. We hope to publish it tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

–Cathy Benson with submitted photos