District staff are restricted from any unpatriotic or anti-American statements after the board unanimously voted on Oct. 21, to include this in page four of local policy EMB: teaching controversial topics. Teachers in violation can face suspension or termination.
“So proud of the work being done on our board,” Board President Misty Odenweller wrote on Facebook. “We don’t always agree or vote alike (nor should we), but we are making things great in Conroe Independent School District!”
The Texans for Excellence in Education presented 11 policy updates at the meeting to re-align district policy in accordance with Senate Bill 12. The anti-American and unpatriotic speech ban goes further than state law and is unique to Conroe ISD.
“There are currently many anti-American ideologies being pushed into education that are detrimental to our students and our country,” trustee Melissa Semmler wrote in an email. “These ideologies grossly limit intellectual plurality and academic freedom by asserting theory as proven truth and restricting healthy debate.”
The policy does not define anti-American and unpatriotic speech. When trustees addressed the vague wording, district legal counsel Kara Belew said Superintendent David Vinson will have to specify the policy.
“It’s up to your superintendent to define and determine what that means,” Belew told the board. “You guys have essentially given him the discretion to define that policy further and implement it as appropriate.”
Semmler said if the policy becomes too restrictive, the board is willing to adjust the policy in the future, but trusts Vinson to enforce the policy thoughtfully.
“The trustees are on the same page with this,” Vinson said. “I want to take time to look through how things will work. You really have to be careful and thoughtful when you’re trying to work through these things.”
Vinson has yet to find a definition for the policy, but plans to cement one with the district legal team leading up to the next meeting.
“Through (U.S. history), patriotism is something students should feel,” Vinson said during a student press conference Oct. 23. “We should feel proud of who we are and what we’re doing. I want Caney Creek Panthers to feel proud, too.”
According to Vinson, another 12 policy-related changes are on the Nov. 18 meeting agenda and he welcomes Conroe ISD residents to give feedback. Agendas are posted on the district website leading up to the meeting. Community members looking to speak at the meeting may apply through the citizen participation form.
“Let’s get (policy-making) right,” Vinson said. “We welcome the questions and keep them coming, because it makes better policy, it makes better procedure and it makes people feel better about knowing what the laws and rules are.”
