Grapevine-Colleyville schools adopt policies on gender, CRT

After over four hours of comments from almost 200 speakers, the Grapevine-Colleyville school board late Monday night voted to adopt policies that would provide more oversight of library materials, limit discussion of gender identity and prohibit the teaching of critical race theory. Trustee Becky St. John said that the policy was “offensive to the community.” She called out board president Casey Ford, saying that while the ad hoc committee and the attorneys had six months to review the policy, the community was only given 72 hours. “This was time that was stolen from our parents and our students. They were given 60 seconds to speak on Monday night,” she said.

Ford chastised St. John and said that she was out of order for “disparaging board members.” St. John went out to criticize Ford, and trustees Kathy Florence-Spradley, Shannon Braun and Tammy Nakamura, saying that the policies were going to create legal problems and overburden teachers. She also questioned why attorneys others than those from the district were asked to work on the policy. Other trustees also objected. Jorge Rodriguez said “my pronouns and ‘he’ and ‘him.’ We have a war against librarians (because of this policy) and a war against the LGBT community. That is why I’m voting against these policies. In years past, we didn’t get to this point. We go to the community. We believe the district needs to provide a safe learning environment for all kids.” Rodriguez said the district is “very diverse and that we have to respect the right of students to learn.” [The policy] is all political. It’s become a springboard for political campaigns.” However, Nakamura read a statement praising the work of school officials and trustees who made sure that the policy conforms to state law. She also chastised St. John, Rodriguez and trustee Coley Canter for bringing forth a socialist agenda. Superintendent Robin Ryan told trustees that he recommended that they vote to adopt the policy because it conforms with Texas Education Agency guidelines and state laws.