Eastside Republican Club Questions
I've been the topic (or secondary topic) of a number of posts on the Eastside Republican Club's Facebook page. I appreciate the questions and thank the admins of the page for allowing me to respond to some of the them. The questions and my responses are below.
Has Forest ever given an explanation as to why he, as school board president, has allowed a sitting board member to continue her intimidation by an elected official? Has Forest ever explained why he allowed people to call out board members by name during public comment when they were being praised but not allowed when they are criticized? Does Forest believe it is the role of the board president to take action when community members report incidences of harassment and bullying by his colleagues on the board? Has Forest explained why he is running with a registered Democrat but attends Republican club meetings? Has he explained why he defends the C.A.R.E. team work? Has Forest explained why he claims the C.A.R.E team hasn't met for the last 1 1/2 - 2 years, yet all internal training materials say otherwise? Does Forest think elements of CRT are in the school district? Does Forest think his seat on the board is his birth right? Did he have Snowies with democrats?
Thank you for your questions and for especially for the opportunity to set the record straight.
It is not the responsibility of the president (or any other board member) to restrict the speech of a fellow board member. (The president sets the agenda, and runs the meetings, but has no additional authority over the other board members). We will have at least three brand new board members for the next four years, and they too will have the opportunity to speak freely. Of course, their speech is subject to our bullying and harassment policies. And I agree that the Board takes bullying and harassment complaints very seriously. I believe strongly in due process. I have had several members of the community ask how to file a complaint, and I further gave the only one who picked up the form contact information for our legal counsel to directly assist her- however, the complaint was never filed and the district’s attorney was never contacted. (To file a complaint, pick up a form at central office, fill it out and turn it in, an investigation will commence- complaints against board members are handled directly by legal counsel). The only actual complaint that has been filed against a board member was by a now former board member. It was thoroughly investigated by an independent 3rd party, who found no harassment by definition, although both parties were at times unprofessional. Like Anderson Township, complaints made by email or on Facebook are not investigated.
Naming board members during public comments: At the last meeting, I started the public commentary section by clarifying that while for years singling out a board member was not allowed, I wanted to be certain, so I contacted our attorney. Our legal counsel advised me that recent court rulings state that if a board has public commentary (which is not required, but we truly value public input), then you can not regulate civility nor decorum. Short of outright threats or obscenity, the public can be as uncivil and discourteous as they desire. I will still ask for respect and decorum, but I will not regulate it. Time limits, however, can be enforced.
I am running independently in a nonpartisan election. There are three of us doing so. School Board is, by its very nature, non-partisan. Party politics, on both sides and especially nationally, can make local decisions even more difficult. My primary motivation in every decision is to do what’s best for our students at that time with the information available. When our students succeed, our community succeeds.
While I did not and never will seek a party endorsement for a nonpartisan school board position, I am a registered Republican and I have supported the Anderson Township/Eastside Republican Club, including financially. I did attend a meet and greet tonight (with Snowies), but most of the people I met were Republican.
I have stated in open meetings and privately, I do not believe that CRT has a role in K-12 education. I do desire that all our students feel included and safe in our schools. With the help of the community, we are working toward that goal.
School board as a birthright? No, but I have spent years deeply committed to serving our students and our community. This is a very challenging job, but one of the most important in our community. There is a reason that the largest number of candidates are running for school board in Hamilton County this year, but the fewest number of incumbents are running. We will have at least 3 new members who, if they are like me, will quickly be humbled by the enormity, the complexity and now more than ever, the intensity of the job. No matter who they are, if elected, I will do my best to help them to lead.
Finally, I again want to thank the admins on this site for allowing me to post this. I do not intend to further comment on Facebook. I have never seen anyone “win” a Facebook argument. I will also not disparage any of my “opponents” on social media. This is an election in which your opponent quickly becomes your colleague for four years when you both win. And it is of the utmost importance for the winners to be able to work together for the next four years to overcome the great challenges of public education.
Has Forest ever given an explanation as to why he, as school board president, has allowed a sitting board member to continue her intimidation by an elected official? Has Forest ever explained why he allowed people to call out board members by name during public comment when they were being praised but not allowed when they are criticized? Does Forest believe it is the role of the board president to take action when community members report incidences of harassment and bullying by his colleagues on the board? Has Forest explained why he is running with a registered Democrat but attends Republican club meetings? Has he explained why he defends the C.A.R.E. team work? Has Forest explained why he claims the C.A.R.E team hasn't met for the last 1 1/2 - 2 years, yet all internal training materials say otherwise? Does Forest think elements of CRT are in the school district? Does Forest think his seat on the board is his birth right? Did he have Snowies with democrats?
Thank you for your questions and for especially for the opportunity to set the record straight.
It is not the responsibility of the president (or any other board member) to restrict the speech of a fellow board member. (The president sets the agenda, and runs the meetings, but has no additional authority over the other board members). We will have at least three brand new board members for the next four years, and they too will have the opportunity to speak freely. Of course, their speech is subject to our bullying and harassment policies. And I agree that the Board takes bullying and harassment complaints very seriously. I believe strongly in due process. I have had several members of the community ask how to file a complaint, and I further gave the only one who picked up the form contact information for our legal counsel to directly assist her- however, the complaint was never filed and the district’s attorney was never contacted. (To file a complaint, pick up a form at central office, fill it out and turn it in, an investigation will commence- complaints against board members are handled directly by legal counsel). The only actual complaint that has been filed against a board member was by a now former board member. It was thoroughly investigated by an independent 3rd party, who found no harassment by definition, although both parties were at times unprofessional. Like Anderson Township, complaints made by email or on Facebook are not investigated.
Naming board members during public comments: At the last meeting, I started the public commentary section by clarifying that while for years singling out a board member was not allowed, I wanted to be certain, so I contacted our attorney. Our legal counsel advised me that recent court rulings state that if a board has public commentary (which is not required, but we truly value public input), then you can not regulate civility nor decorum. Short of outright threats or obscenity, the public can be as uncivil and discourteous as they desire. I will still ask for respect and decorum, but I will not regulate it. Time limits, however, can be enforced.
I am running independently in a nonpartisan election. There are three of us doing so. School Board is, by its very nature, non-partisan. Party politics, on both sides and especially nationally, can make local decisions even more difficult. My primary motivation in every decision is to do what’s best for our students at that time with the information available. When our students succeed, our community succeeds.
While I did not and never will seek a party endorsement for a nonpartisan school board position, I am a registered Republican and I have supported the Anderson Township/Eastside Republican Club, including financially. I did attend a meet and greet tonight (with Snowies), but most of the people I met were Republican.
I have stated in open meetings and privately, I do not believe that CRT has a role in K-12 education. I do desire that all our students feel included and safe in our schools. With the help of the community, we are working toward that goal.
School board as a birthright? No, but I have spent years deeply committed to serving our students and our community. This is a very challenging job, but one of the most important in our community. There is a reason that the largest number of candidates are running for school board in Hamilton County this year, but the fewest number of incumbents are running. We will have at least 3 new members who, if they are like me, will quickly be humbled by the enormity, the complexity and now more than ever, the intensity of the job. No matter who they are, if elected, I will do my best to help them to lead.
Finally, I again want to thank the admins on this site for allowing me to post this. I do not intend to further comment on Facebook. I have never seen anyone “win” a Facebook argument. I will also not disparage any of my “opponents” on social media. This is an election in which your opponent quickly becomes your colleague for four years when you both win. And it is of the utmost importance for the winners to be able to work together for the next four years to overcome the great challenges of public education.
