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Public commenters press district to cut ties with ADL ‘No Place for Hate’; district leadership says program will continue while alternatives are explored
Summary
Several public speakers urged the Mount Vernon board to discontinue use of the Anti-Defamation League's No Place for Hate program and to pursue a locally centered anti-bullying curriculum. District leaders said the program has been in the district for about a decade and that they will include community input as they look for alternatives.
Speakers at the July 29 public comment period urged the Mount Vernon Board of Education to reconsider the district’s use of the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate initiative and to seek alternative, locally developed anti-bullying curricula.
Harry Soloway, a recently retired special education teacher, said the National Education Association’s recent vote to cut ties with the ADL raised concerns about the organization’s materials and urged the board to reconsider local use of the ADL program. Jeff Monroe, a community organizer, urged trustees to “truncate any and all ties with the Anti Defamation League” and argued for a bottom-up process that centers parents, students and local educators.
Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland and Dr. Doggett responded from the dais. Dr. Strickland said he had researched the program and invited Dr. Doggett, who has been leading the district effort, to comment. Dr. Doggett told the board that No Place for Hate "has been in the district for about this will be year 10" and that the district brought the initiative to all schools when he served as principal at Rebecca Turner Elementary. He said the district addressed concerns raised at a July 12 community meeting, reviewed materials Mr. Monroe supplied, and noted that the NEA later adjusted its position after meeting with civil rights and community leaders. Dr. Doggett said the district will sustain the current program for now and "throughout this school year, look for another anti bullying campaign with parents as well." He also said Mr. Monroe will be included in that process if the board directs the staff to pursue alternatives.
No formal board motion to discontinue the program was made during the meeting. Board members and district staff framed the exchange as both a public comment and a commitment to continue reviewing options, including community-led alternatives. Mr. Monroe said he intends to remain active in advocacy; Dr. Doggett and Dr. Strickland said they will involve parents and community stakeholders in any search for a replacement.
Ending note: the exchange combined public comment, staff responses and a pledge to involve Mr. Monroe and others in future curriculum discussion; the board did not vote on program adoption or removal during the July 29 meeting.
