36 GOP lawmakers want SC school board association to pull membership from national group
Thirty-six Republican state representatives want the South Carolina School Board Association to leave the National School Board Association after the national group said school boards around the country were under threat from people attending meetings.
The effort was pushed by state Rep. Stewart Jones, R-Laurens, who was responsible for adding a provision to the state budget aimed at preventing mask mandates in K-12 schools. That provision has since been blocked by a federal court.
“We need to restore individual liberty, local control of education. A big part of that is the role parents play in their child’s education,” Jones said.
The group of lawmakers includes the state Rep. Rita Allison, of Spartanburg, who is chairwoman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, and state Rep. Russell Fry, of Horry, who is running for Congress in the 7th District.
With people across the country voicing displeasure over school mask mandates to slow the spread of COVID-19 and bringing those complaints to school board meetings, the national group had asked the FBI and other agencies to investigate parents and stakeholders, calling them “extremist hate organizations showing up at school board meetings.”
One school board member in Florida reported being harassed at home. Other board meetings have become emotional and turned into shouting matches.
The National School Board Association asked for the federal government to investigate and prevent any threats and acts of violence against public school officials.
“As these acts of malice, violence and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes,” the NSBA wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden.
The South Carolina School Board Association, as well as other groups in the South, had concerns about the NSBA’s letter.
“Like you, SCSBA is especially concerned about the call for federal intervention. SCSBA and its members strongly advocate for local decision-making in the governance of school districts, which is a longstanding position voted on by our members each year,” South Carolina School Board Association Executive Director Scott Price wrote in response to the lawmakers’ letter.
The NSBA has apologized for the language it used in its letter after the push back from its membership.
However, the ire directed at schools over mask mandates has led U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to direct the Justice Department to create a task force to address the rise in criminal conduct toward school personnel.
The task force, which includes to the FBI, is set to determine ways to prosecute crimes against school personnel and to help local law enforcement “where threats of violence may not constitute federal crimes,” according to an October news release.
“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” Garland wrote in a memo. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”
However, that move also upset the group of South Carolina lawmakers.
“The federal attempt to smear parents has already increased tensions and ultimately will chill the ability of citizens to freely petition their government, a constitutionally guaranteed right without fear of reprisal,” the lawmakers wrote.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 10:27 AM with the headline "36 GOP lawmakers want SC school board association to pull membership from national group."
