Valdes wins Republican nomination to school board will face Democrat Elaine Padgett November
News May 25, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Less than 24 hours after he defeated Erin Knight to win the Republican nomination to the Forsyth County Board of Education in District 5, Mike Valdes was tired but eager to get started.
Valdes, the father of three school-aged children ran on a platform that calls for teachers and parents to set the agenda and to ban critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion from the school system.
He spoke about transparency often during the campaign and on Wednesday morning, he hammered that point home again.
“We need to open up the books,” he said. “We need to have public debates and do the business of the school system out in public the way it is intended to be. Let’s get back to transparency and accountability.”
Another hot-button campaign issue he addressed often was the effort to remove books and material that contain obscene or pornographic material from the schools. Media committees are being formed now to accomplish that. But he added the committees seem tilted in favor of the school system. “We’re trying to change that and I think we will. The one thing I can do is push and continue to push in that direction.”
Board of Education Chairman McCall orders meeting room to be cleared
News March 19, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Forsyth County Board of Education appears to be on shaky ground with respect to its conduct of the March 15 meeting and Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.
After ordering the meeting room cleared, Chairman Wes McCall, who will run for reelection in the May 24 General Primary, allowed 11 public speakers to address the Board one by one in front of an empty room. He then called for an executive session to discuss personnel matters which is allowable under the Act. But, following the executive session, McCall called the meeting back into session and with the room still empty, he called for a vote which does appear to violate the Act.
McCall, who is up for reelection in May, demanded the audience leave after a fiery and impassioned speech by Angela Hair who demanded the Board remove books that contained obscene and overtly sexual content from the school libraries.
“I’m begging, begging, begging you all to do something,” she said. She challenged Board members to take the books and read them to “your children, your mother, your preacher.”
Then she began reading the very explicit, sexual content of one book that can be found in the school libraries.
McCall immediately interrupted her and explained that reading the material was not allowed under the Board’s rules. “Why are you stopping me,” she questioned. “Don’t you like the filth you put into our libraries?” When she continued to read, McCall interrupted again saying this is unacceptable and he asked if she would follow the rules or “do you need to be removed.”
Members of the audience shouted in support of Hair but McCall banged the gavel repeatedly and called for security to clear the room.
School boards should exercise extreme caution when they move into executive session. Legal consequences can result if a public board is found to have reached decisions that should have been on an open public agenda.
One of the most common reasons for an executive session is the catch-all category of “personnel.” It is also the reason most often violated. Some boards will call an executive session for personnel reasons at the slightest hint their agenda for the evening is threatened. While hidden from public view, they decide what they’re going to say, who will say it, etc. That is a dangerous and illegal precedent.
State Rep blasts school board’s DIE plan, says opponents should stand up
News July 27, 2021
State Rep. Sheri Gilligan
CUMMING, Ga. – District 24 State Representative Sheri Gilligan spoke out against the Forsyth County strategic plan Monday saying, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is more about division, exclusion and intimidation. If you disagree with them, you get intimidated. I believe it is harming our children.”
During Monday’s Forsyth County Tea Party meeting, Gilligan encouraged DEI and Critical Race Theory opponents to continue to speak out publicly, especially at Forsyth County School Board meetings.
“When you go to speak, it may look like they aren’t listening to you,” she said. “But understand your audience is the people who are watching you. Not just the ones that are in that room. You may not get the head nod in that room but you are making a difference.”
Loudon County Virginia has been featured on many national news outets for weeks for their fight with the local school board over CRT. The county is on the frontline of the war on CRT which has led states like Florida, Arkansas, Idaho and Oklahoma to ban the ideology. More than a dozen other states, including Georgia, are debating a ban.
“How do we know about Loudon County,” Gilligan asked a Tea Party audience Monday. “Because they did not fail to show up. They showed up. They spoke out. We all know about Loudon County. You need to be the next Loudon County.”
Gilligan said many state legislators are considering some type of ban when the General Assembly reconvenes later this year.
“We won’t use the words CRT because what happens is words get changed. I do believe there will be a lot of support for something like that. It’s about treating people equally and not creating a division.”
Anti-CRT fervor heating up in Forsyth County
News June 7, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Parents of Forsyth County students are mad as hell and they say they are not going to take it anymore.
The popular website Concerned Parents of Forsyth County Georgia exploded with negative comments about the Forsyth County Board of Education following the Board’s May meeting.
School officials claim that the school system “does not and will not teach nor promote Critical Race Theory (CRT).” Parents say that statement is deceptive because one component of the schools’ strategic plan, adopted in 2017, is Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, which a number of education experts have said is another name for CRT.
The school website states the strategic plan was developed “working in partnership with Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI),” a strong advocate for CRT.
Conservative radio talk show host Erick Erickson says “GLISI has embraced systemic racism as a problem and that “equity” is needed as a cure. You can say it is not critical theory, but the whole concept is actively derived from critical theory.”
Forsyth County Commissioner Laura Ohnsman Semanson agreed. “A big part of this is semantics,” she posted. Whether or not they are “teaching” CRT if strictly interpreted can be explained away through giving the program a different name, but when the actual programming from the provider (GLISI) is examined (regardless of its name) it is deeply rooted in CRT principles. Further, one could argue it’s not being “taught” because those being instructed in the material are the educators themselves.”
Jenny Clark posted a question: “How much has this “partnership” with the GLISI cost the Forsyth County taxpayers?”
Several posters want to know what the Board is hiding. Mendy Parker Moore posted, “Looks like the teacher training platform is no longer accessible. Of course they’re covering their tracks. Not surprised but it’s very discouraging that they don’t value transparency.”
Again, Commissioner Semanson agreed. “I am not at all surprised. In the past they have failed to produce preliminary maps and related work product related to redistricting (which many believe to be highly political).”
Meg Braskett added, “A few more links I scrolled through that have been posted on here have been scrubbed from the site too…so frustrating and disappointing.”
Some posters like Tamara Bourque Sclafani and Tiffany Hall Donofrio expressed a desire to “vote (Board of Education members) out or have them recalled.”
The anger and resentment parents feel toward the Board of Education does not appear to be going away any time soon.
Danielle Reneman, who spoke at the May meeting, posted, “It’s time to get organized for the next BOE meeting!”
Beth Tipton stated, “Folks need to now turn that energy and determination into constructive strategy and action.”
Margie Robinson Carroll encouraged parents to join local school councils which she said are forming now. “You should know who they are and how they will speak for you when at the “round table”. Seems we are missing a voice at these tables at our individual schools as well! Time to get more involved with your children’s education and future. ”
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