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Clay County School Board adopts proclamation condemning antisemitism after debate over process
Summary
The Clay County School Board adopted Proclamation No. 25-17 condemning antisemitism, 5-0, after members debated language and procedures for bringing proclamations to the agenda and agreed to review a policy at the next workshop.
The Clay County School Board adopted Proclamation No. 25-17 condemning antisemitism, hatred and discrimination on May 1, voting 5-0 to approve the version that was on the published agenda.
Board members said the measure was intended as a proactive statement of the district’s stance amid national campus incidents. “As a district we are against all discrimination, but a year ago May I saw only Jewish students fearing for their lives,” School Board member Ms. Hanson said during discussion.
Supporters said the proclamation aligned with district practice to teach about the Holocaust and with state actions. “I don't see anything in this proclamation that is objectionable,” School Board member Ms. Clark said, urging the board to adopt it. The board chair moved approval and Ms. Clark seconded the motion; the vote carried, 5-0.
The adoption followed extended discussion about process. Several members said they had not had an opportunity to review or debate the text before it appeared on the agenda. “I actually would like to suspend all proclamations until a time this board can get together and decide our policy and our procedures for adding proclamations,” one member said during the meeting.
Board members and staff agreed to place a policy review on the next workshop agenda to clarify how proclamations and other agenda items are proposed and approved. Board attorney staff suggested examining existing models used by the city of Green Cove Springs and NEOLA to craft district policy language.
The board’s action on Proclamation No. 25-17 was procedural: a motion to approve the published text was made, seconded and carried. A proposed amended text that would have added language (including a mention of persecution of Christians) was discussed but not moved; the board voted on the original version as published.
Superintendent David Broski told the board he would work with the chair and staff to support the workshop discussion on proclamation procedures. The board also noted that district policy and state statute already prescribe Holocaust education and that the proclamation was not intended to change those requirements.
The board’s vote came after members recognized the sensitivity of the topic and the national context of campus incidents referenced during public and board remarks. The motion carried, recorded on the meeting minutes as approved unanimously.
