Tonight's @CBSDSchools board mtg promises to be lively. The #BucksCounty district can't stay out of the news: Forced a librarian to remove an Elie Wiesel quote, outsourced policy to a law firm affiliated w/a Christian hate group & accusations of anti-LGBTQ policy. Public comment: 
Local @CBSDSchools parent Jerel Wohl speaking about the Elie Wiesel quote controversy says "it makes me think there is a darkness in central bucks ... that something is going wrong here" largely in part because of the right-wing school board's arrogance and ideological blindness.
Retired @CBSDSchools teacher says the LGBTQ community needs to see themselves in books. The school board denying these students this is encouraging them to feel fear and shame. Eviscerates the board for hiring a PR firm to launder their reputation & a PA Family Council Law firm.
@CBSDSchools One parent whose son graduated last year told him @CBSDSchools is anti-Gay and didn't want to shake Superintendent Lucabaugh's or school board president Dana Hunter's hands at last year's graduation.
Another speaker calls out @CBSDSchools right-wing school board President Hunter & Superintendent Lucabaugh for sending an email that lied to parents about the anti-LGBTQ Independence Law Center they hired, affiliated w/religious org @splcenter designated an extremist hate group.
She says the hiring of this anti-LGBTQ law firm to write library policy is a violation of their own so-called neutrality Policy 321, shining a huge spotlight on the right-wing school board majority and Superintendent Lucabaugh's staggering hypocrisy. "We will not let hate win."
.@ADL's Andrew Goretsky spoke. Said @ADLPhiladelphia had cautioned prior to its passing how Policy 321 would lead to censorship & make students feel unwelcome in their own @CBSDSchools. Said educators are now forced to 2nd guess themselves rather than educate. Repeal Policy 321!
@ADL @ADLPhiladelphia @CBSDSchools @CBSDSchools student: An assumption made by Policy 321 was that America is neutral about which people are valued most and treated best. It assumes that an absence of change from current America is neutral. However, Neutrality is not our default...
There are still threats to #LGBTQ rights in our govt [and in @CBSDSchools district] Why is the LGBTQ community bullied here? Asks the board to repeal Policy 321.
The next speaker calls out the @CBSDSchools right-wing board majority for exposing themselves as a creation of this current age of fake news, misinformation, hate and anti-intellectualism. Says this disaster they are creating in this #BucksCounty school district is their legacy
@CBSDSchools A @CBSDSchools mom notes that #BlackHistoryMonth did not come from neutrality, in reference to the right-wing board majority's Policy 321. You can't have a just and compassionate society with neutrality, with Policy 321. "Policy 321 is rooted in racism, denial and oppression."
A @CBSDSchools Jewish student, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, says the right-wing school board's actions are "disgusting" and begged them to reverse course and actually pass policies that make her and other marginalized students (like LGBTQ) feel safe.
A @CBSDSchools JR tells the right-wing school board's spreading of hate and a toxic environment of distrust is not something they should be proud of. She says that they are setting a bad example for the students they are supposed to protect and teach with their words & actions.
A @CBSDSchools Buckingham mom says the cornerstone of her child's education relies on inclusion to give her & others an authentic sense of belonging. She calls out the right-wing school board and Superintendent Lucabaugh for making a word like inclusion a dirty word...(con't)
Says the board is a Trojan horse for bringing more right-wing extremism into @CBSDSchools, like the aforementioned Independence Law Center affiliated with the Christian hate group and outsourced writing policy to them. Says their calls for neutrality are farcical at best.
Right-wing mom says Policy 321 protects children & parents' rights. Says the problem is LGBTQ cmty is "pushing an agenda on our children." Dismisses @CBSDSchools students feelings of not being safe as just feelings. Keeps calling LGBTQ an ideology. Goes off on Trans cmty.
Another right-wing mom defends Policy 321. Says sexual or political materials have no place in school. [so much for health class, history, social studies, literature, etc.] "This is a spiritual battle and our kids very souls are at stake." Sounds like Christian nationalism.
Another right-wing mom speaks & asks why a former Tea Party member would leave the GOP & become a Democrat after their kids came out as Gay if LGBTQ wasn't political. [Probably because the @BucksGOP and nat'l @GOP are anti-LGBTQ & their policies, words + actions prove it]
Right-wing mom feels blessed to be in @CBSDSchools district. Doesn't think religion should be kept out of policy in a public school district.
Next speaker says book banning whitewashes history. Points out we have a history of genocide &displacement of Native Americans, Trafficking & Slavery of Africans, and oppression & subjugation of women that we should all learn. "People should be allowed to read what they want."
A @CBSDSchools student says Policy 321 is an implicit threat against teachers and discriminatory against LGBTQ students. Also says the school board's proposed redistricting is gerrymandering and an attempt to rig the election in their favor. More Info: buckscountybeacon.com/2023/01/parent…
Right-wing speaker suggests ADL is a front for organized crime and wants to take over the school district.
.@CBSDSchools student says she has seen Policy 321 embolden student bullying of #LGBTQ classmates, creating an uproar of discrimination. She asks: "What's so scary about a Pride Flag?"
Right-wing @CBSDSchools parent calls Woke PA wokepa.com a great resource. It has ties to a local militia the Proud American Patriots Network, which was a Three Percenter cell. It is unclear whether they are still active as a militia. It targets LGBTQ books & others.
Public comment capped at 2 hours & is now finished. @CBSDSchools board is taking a brief recess. ICYMI, read Editor @cmychalejko's recent column 'It Takes A Village: Expelling Right-Wing Extremism From Bucks County School Districts' to get the back story buckscountybeacon.com/2023/01/it-tak…
.@CBSDSchools Board member Karen Smith asks why absolutely no oversight w/what the district's PR firm does. No itemized bills provided, no breakdown of their work. In fact, the bill for Devine + Partners was $30,000 for last month, probably bc so much critical news coverage.
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