The Flagler County School Board can’t even agree to denounce hate.
In an equivalence remarkably similar to that of Donald Trump in 2017, when the president blamed both sides equally after hate groups and their opponents clashed in Charlottesville, Va., Flagler County School Board member Jill Woolbright on Tuesday objected to the inclusion of the word “hate groups” in a proposed district statement “denouncing hate groups.” She said the “poor behavior” witnessed at recent meetings or outside the Government Services Building was “from all groups in our community.”
On Nov. 17, students organized a demonstration outside the Government Services Building against the banning of certain books from school libraries. Woolbright was seeking those bans. The demonstration drew a counter-demonstration by adults, several of them dressed in camouflage and body armor and bearing flags and insignias associated with extremism such as the Three Percenters. The counter-demonstrators hurled slurs, insults and sexual taunts at the students and attempted to drown out the students’ speeches with blaring noise. The scene drew considerable attention–and police presence–and the condemnation of two board members–Cheryl Massaro and Colleen Conklin. (See “Student Protesters Face Hail of Vile Obscenities, Taunts and Threats From Group Claiming to Speak For Children.”)
Woolbright’s equivalence placed the district’s students on the same plane as the counter-protesters, couching it by claiming that she had heard slurs from both sides while sitting at the dais and hearing people speak from the podium–and claiming that there are no hate groups in Flagler County. She attributed the claim to unnamed Flagler County Sheriff’s officials, only calling them “the powers that be at the sheriff’s office.” or “the top people at the sheriff’s department.” Since the Sheriff’s Office was not willing to attribute the “hate group” label to individuals in the county, Woolbright said she was not willing to include reference to hate groups in the district’s statement. (Asked about the Woolbright statement, the Sheriff’s Office said it would respond but had not done so before this article initially published.)
The objection was the latest ideologically-tainted wrangle over words on a school board sharply divided along ideological lines. Weeks ago the board divided over the use of the word “equity” in the district’s long-range goals, a term to which McDonald, Woolbright and Massaro herself initially agreed to remove, only for Massaro to reverse course. The word, to which the extreme right often objects, was put back into the document, with an asterisk.
At a workshop on Tuesday going over the agenda for the next regular meeting of the School Board, on Jan. 18, Massaro brought forth a two-paragraph statement denouncing hate. The board had previously agreed to consider issuing such a statement, but its content was not specified. Massaro wrote it. The first paragraph sums up the board’s responsibility to ensure “a safe learning environment” for students. It drew no objections. The second read, “the Flagler County School Board formally denounces, and will not tolerate intimidating actions, slurs, name calling and/or threats of violence by representatives of Hate or other groups toward Flagler County School District students, staff, administrators, or the public, while these individuals engage in school district related business.” (See the statement in full below.)
Woolbright immediately objected. She wanted mention of “representatives of hate or other groups” eliminated from the body of the statement, and she wanted the words “Denouncing Hate Groups” eliminated from the proclamation’s title.
“To say hate groups to me is pretty severe and I wanted to make sure that there’s no emotion in that,” Woolbright said. She said she’d spoken to (unnamed) sheriff’s officials and based her objections on what she’d learned from them. “The question was asked if any of our meetings or any of the activities that they saw outside our meetings in the sidewalks, or in the meetings, if they would attribute to–did they attribute them to known hate groups, and the answer was no, that they didn’t have any knowledge or proof that there were actual members of actual hate groups.” But her opposition appeared based on what she had seen: “I witnessed some poor behavior from all parts of our community. I witnessed poor behavior from, if you want to talk about groups, from all groups in our community. I witnessed slurs, I heard name-calling, I’ve heard name calling from the podium, addressing us on the dais,” Woolbright said. She called the word hate “subjective.”
Even aside from the counter-demonstrators at the November confrontation, Woolbright’s blanket claim that hate groups have not been detected in Flagler is demonstrably false: the Pacific Justice Institute, “an anti-LGBT hate group,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, placed a public record request for a list of library books in Flagler schools a few months ago, just as the wave of challenges of LGBTQ and anti-racism books was beginning across the country. Woolbright’s own challenge was not far behind.
Woolbright was fine with the statement otherwise. “I just would like to take out ‘of hate or other groups.’ Take out those five words and then I’m okay with how it reads, and then take out the ‘hate group’ in the title,” she said, “however we want to name it, but not hate group.” Woolbright also insisted that the statement should apply to school employees as well, because, she said, she saw school employees speak inappropriately–again creating an equivalence that cast opponents of hate in the same light as those pushing it.
McDonald was troubled by the whole statement, arguing that it’s not the board’s place to denounce anything. “We we have to have a more adult presentation or expectation to live in this world. That everyone has free speech. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to approve of it. You don’t have to align to it. They have that right. Their opinions. We have no ability and we have no latitude to judge other people,” McDonald said–an astounding statement in light of her diametrically opposed position only weeks ago when she was calling for the board to be judge, jury and executioner in the banning of books she deemed inappropriate.
McDonald continued: “I was asked to denounce things that happened outside the building that I’ve had no vision of, I didn’t see it. I heard stories, I saw clips of videos. That’s not the whole story.” She added: “I don’t think it’s the school board’s decision to denounce anyone. And we don’t have hate groups as the Sheriff’s Department says, so it’s our opinion and that doesn’t legally qualify for a hate group.”
“There were people here on that particular night that you’re speaking about, that had on their bodies labels from the Three Percenters, which is a hate group, as well as from the Proud Boys, which is another hate group,” Massaro said. “They do not live in this county. You’re absolutely correct. But they were here. They were the ones who were intimidating our students, which we do have a responsibility to stand up for and protect, okay? That is our responsibility as a school board, whether it’s in the dais, whether it’s on school grounds, or whether it’s outside of meetings.”
“I hear what you’re saying Ms. Cheryl, and yeah, mama bear comes out when it comes to our kids,” Woolbright said.
“You keep saying that, but I have yet to see that Ms. Woolbright,” Massaro said.
Board member Janet McDonald, who at one point said she objected to the entire statement, wanted the word “denounces” eliminated from the text, saying se didn’t like its tone (“the Flagler County School Board formally denounces, and will not tolerate intimidating actions, slurs,” and so on). The word was replaced with “reaffirms.”
Conklin did not attend the meeting. (She revealed this morning on Facebook that she had tested positive for Covid.) But asked about the outcome of Tuesday’s workshop on the proclamation, Conklin said: “I was disappointed I wasn’t able to participate in the discussion but would have pressed for denouncing the hate groups. The individuals we are referencing are not from Flagler county and are members of the Three Percenters and Proud Boys. Identified hate groups. This is not a freedom of speech issue. What took place was hate speech directed at our students, parents and teachers. We should have zero tolerance for such behavior.”
McDonald, who would have rather not had a proclamation on the matter, then raised concerns about enforcement of the statement. Tucker, who had not objected to the first version Massaro brought forth, said enforcement is not part of proclamations. “We’re reading an announcement saying we are against these things,” Tucker, who chairs the board, said. “It’s a proclamation. The same as stalking awareness. It’s a proclamation. We don’t do anything to stalkers that we know of, because we don’t have that authority. But this is the same thing. We’re saying: We don’t want these things to occur, and that’s why it’d be read as a proclamation.”
During the discussion regarding the word “equity,” Tucker had no objections either way to including or eliminating it. He appeared to have no objections either way to the Massaro proclamation–raising the possibility that the matter may not be over, once Conklin returns and is part of the discussion on adoption of the proclamation, since a three-vote majority for the original wording is still possible–unless it is read before Conklin has a chance to raise an objection.
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Deirdre Rutledge says
Is it a coincidence that some people don’t know a hate group when they see one because they’ve never been disempowered in any way?
Would they recognize the difference between someone who is kind to them and a bully? Hate groups are made up of bullies, it’s not hard to figure that out when they try to victimize you.
I’m proud of this generation of students who are willing to stand up for their civil rights, and anyone who’s ever been a victim of hate would know why Flagler County Schools needs to make a stand on this.
It’s really sad that we even need to make a formal written statement to address hate and violence as being unacceptable, this should be understood.
It would be great if we could get people on the board who will state unequivocally that hate, violence, and threats of violence have no place in Flagler County schools. ESPECIALLY against children.
No exceptions, no shades of gray.
The Geode says
There were “good people” on both sides…
Dennis says
Very smart leader. All people, weather in a group or not are capable of hate and being pissed off. All people is exactly the right response.
The dude says
No discussion on how to keep the school buses running on time?
No discussion on what to do if Omicrom comes back to school with our kids?
Just the old hags haggling about a word, based on what some “unnamed sheriff “ allegedly said?
Ld says
“Old hags” harsh judgement…but agree with the rest of the comment. Not sure what school board has accomplished for children this year besides set an uncaring example by refusing to protect each other by wearing masks and by being uncivil to each other.
The dude says
“Harsh Judgement”..,It’s the coin of the realm in Flagler politics, no?
When in Rome. It’s the language they understand.
I’m done with all that “when they take the low road road” crap.
Robjr says
This lady just does not wear the correct clothes.
She needs to come out of the closet and go to meetings with her sheet on. LOL
Hoods are outlawed.
Jim says
Reminds me of the “good people on both sides” comment from the racist trump when referring to the KKK.
Willy James says
For as smart as she would have one believe she’s not! Whether she likes it or not, we have “Hate Groups” in Flagler County and throughout the State of Florida. One only has to check with the Southern Poverty Law Center to verify this. I think Ms. Half-Bright is trying to conceal the fact that her Republicans love the Proud Boys, the 3 Percenters, and the Oath Keepers to name a few as “The Donald” holds these groups in high regard. So she is just following the mantra of her party. It is blatantly obvious that both she and McDonald have lost any clarity of vision on this topic. I would recommend that they start doing real research starting with the information available with the SPLC. However, they must not be myopic to get the gest of what all of the groups on both the Right and Left share in common…HATE!
Pro-Education Voter says
Brilliant nickname. Thank you for my morning chuckle.
Pro-Education Voter says
Keep fighting the good fight, Ms. Massaro. As a former educator myself, I just cringe when I read these articles. Your heart and intent are in the right place and on point, along with Ms. Conklin.
Dear voters of Flagler: For the love of our education system and success of our children, please vote and get Woolbright and McDonald off the Board asap. Perhaps the Board COULD address things like late busses if those two weren’t constantly setting false fires and bogging down the entire purpose of the School Board, to protect and educate the children. As a military family, we’ve lived in several states and dealt with very diverse school districts. This is the most dysfunctional one I’ve ever seen, primarily because of the two aforementioned members.
TB says
So the students exercised their rights to assemble regarding an issue they felt strongly about, as did the group of people who disagreed with them….dialogue in regard to these matters does not have to be watered down, nor does it have to be suppressed! If the students and those who opposed their view, came to blows, then I’d see a problem, but that’s not what happened! I believe passion is being misconstrued as violence and speech(no matter how putrid some may find it) is not violence, either! The whole point of our democracy is to have disagreements and they should be worked through by us as civilians, dissenting views are NEVER cause to legislate speech, regardless how unpopular they are! There is a reason we still have a nazi party (not related to republicans in any form or fashion) as well as a communist party) both who get on ballets in elections across the country! Deplatforming these views is not only unconstitutional, it would be flat out wrong! We live in a society where everyone believes their side is the only correct one, and the extreme minorities are the loudest, the fact is the vast majority in the middle have much more in common than we are lead to believe and taking one side or the other out of the conversation is flat out unhealthy, for not only our democracy, but for our ability to grow as human beings as well.
The dude says
“Deplatforming… blah blah blah…”
Nobody owes you or anybody else a soapbox.
Nor does the paranoid perception that private companies gave others a larger soapbox mean you are entitled to the same size soapbox.
To avoid being “deplatformed” you can do a number of things like, not sign up for the platform in the first place, abide by the rules of the platform that you agreed to when you signed up, tell the truth in your narcissistic need to vomit every thought in your head out to the world, or simply be a decent person and maybe use social media platforms for what they’re originally intended for… showing pictures of your kids and cats to your friends.
No one owes you a “platform”.
A.j says
If anyone understand hategroups it is Africsn Americans and other people of color. Just take your time and read about the KKK., and read about the JIM CROWE Era of thus country. Will not go into details but look at the color of the people who carried out the demonic inspired plans of hate. GOD only know how many people of color were murdered at hands of the hate groups. GOD only know the generational negative effects their hatred acts have affected us from then until now. I don’t think white people understand how bad their hatred actions are. They can comment about it all day long but until they experience the receiving end they will truly never understand how bad their actions are. The hate groups will continue until the end of time. People of color will be at the receiving end. By the grace of GOD my forefathers were not wiped off the face of the earth because a few white people hates us so much until they will kill us at will, and fir the most part they will not get a death sentance.
A.j says
To be mature honest and realistic, there are white people who don’t give a hoot about any body they are trying to make a living like the rest of us. The media say very little to nothing about how some white people helped the slaves, helped people of color during the JIM CROWE Era. Died at the hands of white men simply because they helped AFRICAN AMERICANS. I asked myself a question, did any white men get lynched, I found that some did. I asked myself why? Upon further researching I found my answer. They were lynched because they gave a helping hand to the Black Man. Then I said what a shame. I dont think we will ever know how many families were lynched at the hands of the hate groups. Modern day lynching still happens just look at Brunswick Ga. I will say there are some white people who will help a Black Man out at almost any cost.The media will always spend more time magnifying the bad and say very little about the good.
The dude says
My daughter’s school bus is 23 minutes late… just now I get a robocall from Flagler schools saying the bus is running 25 minutes late.
I don’t know if they mean ANOTHER 25 minutes or what.
Irregardless, this what the school board’s job is, not protecting our kids from obscure words in useless “statements” they’ll never read or burning books they’ll never check out.
The dude says
Buses running 25 minutes late again this afternoon… but ya’ll go ahead and debate book burning and trigger words that make the dullards upset, like “equity” and such.
Because burning books and banning rightwing trigger words are why you were elected.
The dude says
At the risk of flogging a dead horse here…
I moved to this shithole county taking for granted the simple functions of everyday government, like running the school buses.
That is the most basic of basic functions that the school board needs to make sure happens.
My job is still in the city I moved from. There are no jobs for me in this area because I make a living by not being a handyman, pool guy, or mow-n-blow grass cutter. For the work I do, the areas between Jacksonville and Orlando are desolate wastelands (shithole country) where there is no place for skilled technical workers, only retirees and the people who service them.
That being said… I have to come back up to the city where my job is from time to time for meetings, launches, etc.
When I’m home the buses being late is mainly just an inconvenience due to the county’s abject and ongoing incompetence. When I’m out of town it becomes a huge problem because my wife teaches and she has a schedule she has to keep. St John’s County somehow manages to get their kids to school on time, and she has to be there.
But not Flagler county.
The morons on the Flagler County school board, and those who voted for them are more interested in burning books (nobody has ever heard of), and endlessly debating the use of rightwing trigger words. Not getting the kids to their shitty schools on time, or making those schools less shitty. Just Book burning and coddling the rightwing nutbags who have nothing better to do than play military dress up and menace school board meetings.
Oh yeah, the flagler county school buses are late this morning… again.