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From YouTube: School Board Special Meeting August 18, 2022 6PM
Description
Fargo Public Schools - Board of Education Special Meeting - Live Broadcast - August 18, 2022 6PM
B
C
A
Thank
you
now,
we'll
move
on
to
the
pledge
of
allegiance,
which
is
the
only
item
on
our
agenda
and
again
I
was
going
to
start
by
just
reading
memo
number
14,
which
reads
at
the
february
8th
board
meeting
board
member
david
paulson
added
an
agenda
item
to
the
business
section
regarding
the
pledge
of
allegiance.
He
moved
to
begin
each
regular,
regularly
scheduled
meeting
of
the
fargo
board
of
education
with
the
pledge
of
allegiance
led
by
the
president
immediately
following
the
call
to
order.
A
At
the
february
24th
governance
committee
meeting
consensus
was
reached
to
add
the
item
to
the
march
22nd
meeting
under
business
at
the
march
22nd
meeting
the
motion
to
begin
each
regularly
scheduled
meeting
of
the
fargo
board
of
education
with
the
pledge
of
allegiance
immediately
following
the
call
to
order
passed,
the
pledge
of
allegiance
has
been
cited
at
each
regular
board
meeting.
Since
specifically
april
12
april,
26th
may
10th
may
24th
june
14th
june
28
july
12th
and
august
9th
at
our
regular
meetings
board.
A
Member
seth
holden
asked
for
the
governance
committee
to
discuss,
adding
an
agenda
item
to
a
board
meeting
on
the
pledge
of
allegiance
seeking
to
rescind
the
previous
action.
At
our
july
28
governance
committee
meeting
consensus
was
reached
to
add
the
item
to
the
august
9th
meeting
under
business
at
the
august
9th
board
meeting
a
motion
to
rescind
the
action
taken
on
the
march
22nd
board
meeting
to
begin
each
regularly
scheduled
meeting
with
the
pledge
of
allegiance
immediately
following
the
call
to
order
passed.
A
Further,
a
considerate
amount
of
misinformation
has
been
shared
about
the
action
and
its
reach
into
procedures
in
our
schools.
The
board
of
education's
action
on
its
august
9th
meeting
did
not
impact
the
recitation
of
the
pledge
of
allegiance
in
our
school
buildings
by
students
and
staff.
Nor
did
it
change
our
recitation
of
the
pledge
of
allegiance
to
remove
the
words
under
god.
The
action
taken
at
the
meeting
was
not
to
negate
the
board's
support
of
patriotism,
the
love
of
one's
country
or
the
support
of
the
flag
of
the
united
states.
A
However,
the
amount
of
feedback
has
made
it
evident
that
correcting
motions
to
comprehensively
reflect
board
decision
will
divert
even
more
staff
and
board
time
and
resources
away
from
preparing
for
the
start
of
the
2022-2023
school
year.
Therefore,
as
permissible
for,
I
am
calling
a
special
meeting
of
the
board
of
education
to
discuss
the
impact
of
our
previous
decision
and
what
it
has
meant
to
our
district,
its
operations
its
in
its
image.
A
So
since
the
august
9th
meeting,
I
have
done
my
best
to
respond
to
as
many
constituents
as
possible.
This
special
meeting
has
been
called
in
response
to
the
meaningful
conversations
that
I
and
my
fellow
board
members
have
had
with
parents
and
members
of
the
fargo
school
district.
Many
have
discussed
with
us
how
much
it
means
to
them
to
hear
their
board
of
education
recite
the
pledge
of
allegiance
at
the
start
of
our
meetings
to
these
individuals.
A
I
thank
you
for
sharing
your
stories
for
your
time.
Respect
and
your
civility.
This
special
meeting
has
not
been
called
in
response
to
the
threatening
hateful
lewd,
vile
and
racist
emails
and
voice
mails
that
have
been
received.
Fargo
public
schools
has
a
zero
tolerance
policy
around
bullying
and
likewise
this
behavior
will
not
be
tolerated
or
accepted
by
this
board.
It
has
come
to
my
attention
that,
in
addition
to
myself
many
school
board,
members
have
received
excessive
threats
and
three
have
discussed
with
me,
potentially
filing
police
reports
for
their
safety.
A
We
know
that
local
and
national
law
enforcement
entities
are
aware
of
the
threats
and
the
situation.
I
have
also
been
made
aware
of
the
unsustainable
time
demands
this
has
placed
on
our
district
administration
and
staff.
The
volume
of
correspondence
has
required
three
to
four
staff
members
to
around
the
clock.
Do
nothing
but
attempt
to
address
this
issue
and
try
to
respond.
A
There
was
also
a
two-day
period
of
time
where
fargo
public
schools
was
unable
to
answer
the
phones.
This
is
unacceptable
to
us
as
a
board
the
week
prior
to
school,
starting
there
could
be
families
calling
to
register
their
children
or
calling
with
questions
regarding
back
to
school.
We
must
be
available
to
them.
That
is
our
priority
as
a
school
board,
and
as
a
district
with
that,
I
would
like
to
move
that
we
reinstate
beginning
each
regularly
scheduled
meeting
of
the
fargo
board
of
education
with
the
pledge
of
allegiance
immediately
following
the
call
to
order.
E
E
It
took
a
lot
of
time,
but
I
did
read
everything
that
hit
my
inbox
and
I
noticed
a
few
trends
in
emails
and
calls
I
was
receiving
so
like
any
anyone
who
works
in
microsoft
excel
professionally.
I
started
tracking
some
of
the
data
and,
as
of
the
last
time
I
checked
only
19
percent
of
the
messages
I
received
were
from
fargo
residents.
E
And
now
I'd
like
to
apologize
to
those
good
people
of
fargo
for
what
I
am
about
to
do
in
a
few
minutes,
I'm
going
to
vote
to
reinstate
the
pledge
of
allegiance
here
having
been
directly
influenced
by
people.
I
was
not
elected
to
represent,
but
I
hope
you'll
forgive
me,
because
I
truly
believe
it
is
in
the
best
interest
of
our
schools
to
do
so.
E
C
C
C
C
C
In
the
democracy
we
can
expect
and
should
value
disagreement,
discussion
over
idea
decision
and
policy.
However,
the
respond
to
this
decision
has
not
has
not
been
discussed.
It
has
mostly
been
hated.
Hate
hate
has
no
place
in
this
fargo
community.
I
can
tell
you
that,
and
I
will
not
tolerate
it
myself.
C
C
I
want
to
share
some
of
the
messages
that
I
have
received.
Therefore,
unfortunately,
these
are
unfortunately
representative
of
a
hundred
of
emails
and
voicemail
I
received
over
the
past
week,
and
I
hope
you
can
hear
some
of
it.
I
know
it
might
be
scary,
but
I
think
that
is
good,
that
you
can
hear
it.
F
Figured
the
black
wouldn't
vote
for
the
pledge
of
allegiance
before
school.
Listen
jackass,
you
weren't
a
slave.
Nobody,
you
know
was
a
slave
and
nobody
alive
owned
a
slave,
but
you
don't
like
the
pledge
of
allegiance
because
it
hurts
your
little
black
feelings:
oh
you're,
a
fascist
nazi
and
now
you
are
marked.
C
C
Anyway,
in
summary,
I'm
saying
the
pledge
at
our
meeting
is
not
long-standing,
it
hasn't
been
happening
for
it
has
been
happening
for
four
months,
no
matter
what
we
decided,
it
wouldn't
change.
How
much
we
care
for
our
students,
our
teachers,
our
stabbed
in
our
district.
It
wouldn't
change
a
decision.
C
C
C
I
understand
it's
not
easy
to
make
this
decision,
but
know
that
this
this
moment
will
pass.
Let's
get
back
to
the
work
that
we
are
elected
to
do,
and
that
is
to
find
a
solution
to
our
teacher
charter,
just
mental
health
issues,
academic
achievement
for
our
students
and
to
make
our
district
a
better
place.
Thank
you.
A
G
I
also
greg
would
like
to
start
with
an
apology.
I
want
to
apologize
to
my
fellow
board,
members
and
cabinet
and
all
the
other
staff
for
what
they've
had
to
endure
over
the
past
week.
I
under
no
circumstances
will
ever
be
apologetic
from
my
morals
or
my
principles
or
the
things
that
I
stand
for,
but
it
breaks
my
heart
to
know
that
people
I
care
about
have
suffered
by
any
action
I
may
have
taken.
G
G
G
A
lot
of
those
concerns
have
really
just
been
brought
to
life
questions
that
I
don't
know
if
I
have
the
answers
to,
I'm
obviously
main
very
concerned
about
the
image
of
our
district
right
now,
but
I'm
wondering
if,
if,
if
reinstating,
will,
will
change
that
image
or
not?
I
guess
that
is
that's
something
that
can
only
be
seen
depending
on
action.
G
G
G
B
B
My
vote
on
august
9th
was
made
with
three
principles
in
mind.
It
was
first
that
I
believed
a
local
governing
board's
decision
as
to
how
it
began.
Its
meetings
was
uniquely
in
the
hands
of
its
nine,
duly
elected
members.
Precedent
also
informed
my
decision
and
in
this
board's
modern
history.
This
was
not
a
practice
until
april
of
this
year.
B
B
I
have
never
thought
the
pledge
was
the
only
or
even
best
way
of
expressing
your
love
for
your
country,
and
I
still
believe
that.
But
now
I
understand
that
the
optics
of
this
decision
were,
quite
frankly
terrible.
More
significantly,
the
vote
incited
an
onslaught
of
communications
directed
to
fargo
public
schools
staff
to
such
a
degree
that
it
encap
encapsulated
them
from
doing
their
own,
their
general
duties
and
supporting
the
district's
work.
B
I
appreciate
your
thoughts.
I
deeply
understand
them,
but
I
respectfully
disagree
with
you
to
me.
Reflective
leadership
is
the
ability
to
acknowledge
the
shortcomings
of
your
original
decision
compromise
when
necessary,
particularly
on
a
non-substantive
decision
such
as
this
one
and
laid
a
rest,
a
controversy,
so
we
can
move
forward
and
start
focusing
on
the
very
important
work
we
have
before
us.
B
D
D
The
establishment
clause
is
really
what
created
the
issue
that's
in
front
of
us
today.
Theoretically,
congress
can
make
no
law
to
promote
or
prohibit
the
exercise
of
free
religion.
Obviously,
I
think
that
same
premise
applies
to
all
subdivisions
outside
of
congress,
state
legislatures
city
commissions,
school
boards,
etc.
D
D
It
was,
of
course,
challenged
in
court
whether
you
could
make
students
in
public
education
recite
the
pledge
of
allegiance,
and
while
the
court
originally
said,
no,
you
can't
it
ultimately
at
the
supreme
court
was
decided
that,
yes,
you
can
have
the
pledge
of
allegiance
recited
in
classrooms,
but
you
cannot
require
any
student
to
stand
or
recite
it
and
if
they
would
prefer
to
leave
the
words
under
god
out.
That
is
perfectly
acceptable
as
well.
D
I
flat
out
disagree
that
reciting
the
pledge
of
allegiance
does
not,
with
the
words
under
god,
promote
the
establishment
of
religion.
I
think
it
clearly
does
and
if
you
could
explain
to
me
how
a
kindergartner,
a
sixth
grader,
a
seventh
grader,
would
understand
that
they
could
not
recite
it
with
the
rest
of
their
class
or
they
could
leave
out
those
two
words
the
supreme
court
said,
then
you
would
probably
have
an
agreement
with
the
philosophy
I
have
as
a
person.
D
All
of
that
being
said,
every
opportunity
I
have
in
any
environment
where
the
pledge
of
allegiance
is
said.
I
will
certainly
stand
and
say
it.
I
have
nothing
but
respect
for
this
country
and
I'm
a
presbyterian
and
do
believe
in
god.
That
being
said,
I
do
not
believe
it
really
does
meet
the
test
of
the
establishment
clause.
D
So
personally,
I
think
the
decision
we
made
to
no
longer
say
it
was
the
appropriate
decision
and
those
of
you
that
want
to
send
me
more
hate,
email
feel
free
to
do
it,
but-
and
I
think
you
said
it
correctly
seth
do
we
concede
a
battle
for
the
ultimate
win
and
the
ultimate
win.
For
me
as
a
school
board
member
is
to
protect,
protect
this
district
and
its
students
every
day
every
hour.
Every
minute,
and
to
that
extent
I
will
be
voting
for
president
newman's
motion
as
well,
even
though,
philosophically
I
disagree
with
it,.
H
Yeah,
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
yeah.
I
wanted
to
share
briefly
that
I
I
decided
to
seek
a
seat
on
the
fargo
board
of
education,
because
I
believe
that
the
right
to
a
free
and
public
education
is
one
of
the
most
valuable
rights
that
we
have
as
a
us
citizen,
I'm
proud
that
our
schools
welcome
and
embrace
all
children,
regardless
of
their
race,
their
religion,
their
gender
or
their
background.
H
Obviously,
it's
well
known
that
on
august
night,
this
board
voted
to
discontinue,
saying
the
pledge,
even
though
we
had
only
been
saying
it
since
april.
I
feel
like
that
seemed
to
be
lost
when
you
look
at
all
the
different
communications
and
the
the
the
media
that
we've
received
around
this,
our
board
of
education
did
function
successfully
for
decades
without
the
pledge
of
allegiance,
and
there
are
many
school
boards,
even
within
our
state
and
in
the
region
that
that
still
do
that.
But
yet
we
became
the
recipients
of
such
hateful
messages.
H
H
There
is
a
very
real
child
care
shortage
which
impacts
workers,
including
teachers,
abilities
to
work,
and
I
I
wish
that
our
attention
would
focus
on
these
areas
and
not
on
this
one,
highly
divisive
area,
the
pledge
of
allegiance
and
so
for
those
of
you
that
have
provided
the
constructive
and
meaning
meaningful
feedback
to
me.
I
I
thank
you,
regardless
of
tonight's
outcome.
H
I
hope
that
we
can
shift
our
attention
and
passion
back
to
our
students,
our
teachers
and
our
staff,
and
I
I
would
echo
the
sentiments
of
many
of
my
colleagues
that
we
are
here
to
do
what's
best
for
our
district,
to
protect
our
teachers,
our
students
and
our
staff,
and
to
set
everyone
up
for
a
very
successful
year,
and
that
is
what
I
will
be
thinking
when
we
take
this
vote
here
shortly.
Thank
you.
A
Going
once
any
any
further
discussion
this
evening,
okay,
if
not,
there's
a
motion
on
the
floor
that
has
been
seconded
to
reinstate
beginning
each
regularly
scheduled
meeting
of
the
fargo
board
of
education
with
the
pledge
of
allegiance
immediately
following
the
call
to
order
ann
marie
I'll.
Have
you
call
the
role
gullickson.