February 21, 2023 Mr. Henderson Reads a statement at the Kettering School Board Meeting

Transcript of what Mr. Henderson read at the end of the February 21, 2023 Kettering School Board Meeting:

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Speaker 1 (00:02)

I do want to share a statement on behalf of the board concerning some of the issues that we've heard comments on tonight. We do truly appreciate all those folks who come out to share their observations as well as those folks who are out here and haven't taken the opportunity to share comments with us, but here nonetheless to show some support. So as we stated before, every board of education meeting, the district's mission in partnership with the family and community is to guarantee a superior educational learning experience for all students by providing innovative learning environment while responsibly utilizing resources. This district is committed to accomplishing this mission and to building students who are engaged collaborators, lifelong learners, critical thinkers, thoughtful communicators, and global citizens by building strong partnerships, relationships, and trust with all of our stakeholders. These are tenets of our strategic plan which has been in place for five years and was the product of much contribution from members of our community. It is discouraging that accuracy in media, who is not a citizen of Kettering, used out of context quotes and questionable reporting tactics to further their specific agenda. The aim group is using a manufactured secret stinging video in an attempt to weaken not only our Kettering City community, but public education as a whole.

Speaker 1 (01:45)

Keturic City School teachers, staff, and administrators value and experience a trusting relationship with our families and students. This includes transparency in all issues and report, accordingly covered in their covert interview with a Kettering City School's staff member. The employee who was covertly reported during the conversation and questioning has worked in public education for more than 40 years. He has a track record of proven success and commitment to doing what's right. This video misrepresents not only this employee's demonstrated values and beliefs, but also the full extent of his comments during the conversation. Accuracy in media chose to use only the pieces and parts of the individual's comments that serve its purpose and further its agenda. I think when we're talking about sensitive topics like what we've heard about tonight, it's important that we deal with facts and not conjecture and not speculation. So let me share some facts about some of the issues raised in the AIM video. It is a fact that Keturah city schools does not teach a course called Critical Race Theory. It is a fact that principles of Critical Race Theory are not taught in our district's K through 12 curriculum. The district follows the state's academic content standards and has a process for developing curriculum and adopting resources according to board policy.

Speaker 1 (03:36)

This process involves the district's instructional services counsel, which includes administration, staff, board members, community members, parents, and guardians. It is a fact there has never, ever been a proposal for the instructional services counsel to adopt as part of the district's curriculum either a CRT course or any principle of CRT. With regard to Kettering City School District's position on violating the law, we can unequivocally state the district would never knowingly violate the law. Further, the fact is, if it was found that a staff member of the Kettering City schools had knowingly broken the law, that individual would no longer be working in the district. As always, your Board of Education, Superintendent, and district administration welcome open dialog, and we encourage parents and guardians to contact Mr. Mccarthy Stewart or Mr. Vine Andorff, the district's assistant superintendent of teaching and learning with any questions or concerns about the content of what is being taught in our classrooms. Turning to transgender students. Again, on these sensitive issues, let's talk about the facts. It is a fact that it's the policy of this district to respect the dignity and privacy of every student. It's also a fact that the district follows all state and federal law that applies to transgender students, including Title Nine of the Education Amendment of 1972, including the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution, as those laws have been interpreted and applied by the courts that govern Ohio and the Governor of the school district.

Speaker 1 (05:39)

We also are mindful of the rules imposed by the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Enforcement, and we're mindful of how the law relating to transgender students in public education has evolved in many state federal jurisdictions outside of Ohio. Consistent with the laws that we are duty bound to follow follow. Federation City Schools has long had a board policy prohibiting discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of sex, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity. When we have a student or parent who requests accommodation or support regarding the student's gender identity, the objective of the student's building leadership is to develop a support plan between the student, the parent or Guardian and the school. Accommodations are considered when there is evidence that a student has consistently, persistently, and insistently expressed a different gender identity. This concept that students can come into school one day and claim to be able to identify as a boy and the next day identify as a girl, that doesn't exist here. It's a hypothetical situation. Any student support plans are required by law to be confidential, just as every other student specific plan is required to be confidential.

Speaker 1 (07:12)

As for bathroom usage, the law and our board policy allows a transgender student to use a restroom of their identified gender. Again, there are no circumstances where a student can decide one day to use a female restroom and the next day to use a male restroom. They can use that restroom. It's an individual's restroom. Which law is that male or female? Sorry. If parents or guardians or other district stakeholders have questions about the laws that we must abide by related to transgender students or the district's policies that implement those laws, please reach out to Ms. Mccartney Stewart, and she will make sure that you get accurate information. Reach out to them. With that, that concludes the business of the board tonight.