Manatee County School Board split on opposition to injustice against ‘black Americans’

As it tried to finalize a statement on racial injustice and recent events, the Manatee County School Board failed to reach a consensus on Tuesday evening. Instead, board members argued about the need to highlight “black Americans” in their message, and whether a statement was enough to effect positive change.

Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said she wanted to offer residents a clear stance on equality, justice and racism, and she hoped to finalize a message by the meeting’s end. Charlie Kennedy, the board’s vice chair, offered a draft statement, while the district offered two of its own, after consulting with its Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“I think everybody here supports the content of all these drafts,” board member Dave Miner said. “I think we’re all united in grieving the violence, the racism, that is in our culture.”

Miner went on to suggest an edit in the second draft. It said that Manatee stood with everyone who grieved over “the brutal and needless deaths of black Americans.” Miner suggested the words “black Americans” be removed from the draft.

He said that George Floyd, the black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police, was the “focus in the moment,” but that Manatee should take a stance against the oppression of all people.

Floyd’s death prompted global demonstrations against racism and police brutality. Derek Chauvin, a white officer who was later fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, was shown on video holding his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. He now faces a charge of second-degree murder.

Kennedy said that Tuesday’s discussion was prompted by community members who reached out to him, and that he disagreed with Miner’s edit.

While all people were important, Kennedy said, it was important to recognize the overwhelming violence against black Americans. In his own draft statement, he listed the names of three people who died at the hands of police or vigilantes: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Floyd.

“I was sitting at home in my safe world, horrified by what I was seeing on the news and reading online, but without consciously thinking it, living in a world where this doesn’t touch me,” Kennedy said. “I want to thank those community members for waking me up, to say we have a school district full of black and brown employees.”

“2020 is a lot to bear right now,” he continued. “We were already dealing with COVID-19, but it was the murder of George Floyd that brought us to this point where we are. It wasn’t the murder of a white person. It was another murder of an African American, on the street, that we all witnessed.”

The school board was torn on how to move forward. Gina Messenger, the board chair, said she would support the draft statements as they were presented, with no edits, placing the decision in Saunders’ hands.

Board member Scott Hopes supported the second draft and Miner’s edit.

“I think many, if not all of us, are troubled by recent events,” Hopes said. “I really appreciate Mr. Miner’s thoughtful edits and comments to draft No. 2.”

“I realize these recent events are around one particular incident that was horrible and disgusting and it shouldn’t occur anywhere in the world, much less the United States,” he continued. “But really, we’re here for all of the children in Manatee County. We’re here for all of our employees.”

James Golden, the school board’s only black member, said he had no interest in the statements. Instead of mulling over words, he said, the board should focus on taking swift and meaningful action.

“Get out of your comfort zone, get away from your platitudes, and get away from this idea that all we got to do is talk about it,” Golden said to his fellow board members.

The district issues a statement

The superintendent was forced to make a decision. On Tuesday night, the district sent a message to employees and community members, leaving the original wording intact.

“The School District of Manatee County stands in solidarity with all those who oppose racism and racial injustice,” it read. “We grieve with our students, families and community over the brutal and needless deaths of Black Americans that have sparked protests of anger, frustration and despair across America and the world.”

The district vowed to expand its social and emotional learning programs, educating students on “interracial sensitivity and civility, cultural awareness and positive social interaction.” In hopes of addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, Manatee was also working to reduce out-of-school suspensions and to use restorative practices, according to its statement.

“As part of an active response, the School District is committed to using all of its resources to fight systemic oppression and implicit bias to effect meaningful and lasting change,” it read.

“We will continue to work with our local law enforcement agencies and our school Guardians to build bridges of communication and trust to our black and brown students and families,” the statement continued.

‘I’m through talking’

Golden offered two motions and several ideas on Tuesday night.

Invest more in “black, Hispanic, Jewish and LGBTQ programs” for five years, he proposed. Golden also said he wanted to publicize a zero-tolerance policy against violence and potentially lethal forms of restraint.

“Anybody can write and nobody’s going to read it,” he said of the draft statements. “Particularly the young people who are out there on the streets, who are trying to make a difference, they aren’t going to believe this is going to make a difference. I’m through talking.”

Golden wanted immediate action, and he took the first step with a motion. Pointing to the Florida Law Enforcement Academy at Manatee Technical College, he suggested the board outlaw any lessons that might include chokeholds or neck restraints.

Hopes then questioned whether chokeholds were part of the academy, and whether the board had a right to make changes to the program, which is guided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

In response, Golden said it was important to ban dangerous practices, regardless of whether they were currently in use.

“What I’m asking you to do with me — with me — is take as stand,” Golden said.

Before a vote could take place, the board heard from Doug Wagner, the executive director of MTC. He received a text message from Jay Romine, the academy’s director, confirming that chokeholds were not taught in the local program.

His assurance caused Golden to withdraw the motion, but on Tuesday night, the district statement included MTC and the law enforcement academy. It said they would “review and evaluate their training practices to include appropriate restraining techniques and proper responses to violent encounters.”

In his second motion, Golden said the district should offer in-class voter registration to students who turned 18 years old while taking a course on the U.S. government. His idea, the superintendent said, could easily be included in the student progression plan, making voter registration a normal part of certain classes.

Hopes objected to the motion. He noted that students can pre-register before the age of 18, and he called for more research and discussion in the future, before the school board made any lasting decisions.

Messenger, the board chair, encouraged Golden to work his ideas into new or existing policies, which could be reviewed and voted on later. His motion ultimately failed, and the board moved on with its meeting.

Just before 9:30 p.m., not long after the meeting ended, the superintendent released her statement to the community.

“The values of equality, equitable justice and inherent respect for each and every individual are not only primary priorities of the School District of Manatee County, but an integral part of the educational mission to which we have been called,” Saunders concluded.

This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 8:06 AM.