This week, schools across our state again opened their doors facing a great deal of uncertainty and apprehension. This came from not only students and parents, but also from teachers, administrators and school board members.
Northwest Arkansas parents met Saturday, August 14, to discuss issues surrounding the opening of area schools. Whether the issue was mask mandates, Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, Revisionist History, or Gender Equity, the underlying concern was the usurping of parental authority by school boards and school districts across our nation and the ties to the destructive ideology currently swarming our schools.
Eight districts were represented at the NWA meeting. A strong message sent by attending parents was that we will not relinquish our Constitutional rights and freedoms to make the right choice for our children and our families. The red line has been drawn and a commitment made. This is a commitment to stand on solid Constitutional grounds to fight all attempts of an ideology designed (CRT) to dismantle, among other things, our educational structures and to transform the educational culture of our schools.
Speakers at the meeting provided information on topics such as legal information on parental rights, the power of FOIAs, researched medical data concerning Covid and the effects of masks on our children and our responsibility to work with our legislators to enact laws protecting our schools and communities. Resources were presented that equipped parents seeking to make the most informed and educated decisions concerning their children and the upcoming school year.
Petition the School Board
One effective way to push back and call for accountability in your school district is to gather 50 signatures of qualified electors in your school district — this will force the school boards to hold a meeting regarding your concern. According to Arkansas Code Title 6, the board of directors of a public school district shall meet…
“When petitioned to meet by a verified written petition that:
(i) Is signed by fifty (50) qualified electors in the school district;
(ii) Contains the printed name and address of each qualified elector signing the petition;
(iii) Is accompanied by the verified statement of the person obtaining the signatures on the petition required under § 7-9-109 ; and
(iv) States the purpose for the meeting.”
Download Our Petition Here.
*photo credit: https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210810/theyre-too-young-right-now-group-of-dist-303-parents-students-rally-against-mask-mandate
