Public commenters press Cobb schools on special-education supports, book removals, ICE policy and safety concerns

During the public-comment portion of the Cobb County School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 13, 2025, multiple speakers urged the board and superintendent to address shortcomings in special-education services, to reverse or reconsider recent book removals, to clarify district procedures if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appears at schools, and to respond to allegations about the district communications team's conduct.

The comments matter because they address district policies that affect students' access to services, classroom materials, and safety — areas that board members and district leaders identify as central to their responsibilities.

Tova Ringlin, speaking as “a special needs mom,” said her child’s classes lacked adequate staffing and that repeated requests for additional support were ignored. She said the Georgia Department of Education found the district violated her son’s rights to a free appropriate public education, and described resulting legal and financial consequences her family faced.

Sharon Hudson criticized what she called “the superintendent's censorship through banning books,” thanked librarians and teachers, and argued against removing books from media centers. Hudson specifically discussed the book 13 Reasons Why and said the work “passes the Supreme Court's Miller test” for literary value and should be returned to school media centers.

Tracy O'Connor, identifying herself as the parent of two alumni and a current junior at Pope High School, asked whether Cobb County Schools maintains a written policy for how staff should respond if ICE or another federal agency comes to a school building, whether staff have been trained on such a policy, whether the policy is available online, and whether the district plans to produce one if none exists. She asked for follow-up from the district.

Jennifer Susco accused district communicators of orchestrating events to “cause ‘fireworks’ not for safety,” said records show the communications team violated First Amendment rights and joked about inappropriate behavior, and criticized the district’s installation of metal detectors while contending those devices do not address broader safety concerns in other parts of the county.

Michael Garza urged the board to prioritize supports for students with disabilities, saying federal protections are at risk and criticizing district leaders for not focusing on programs that deliver services. He described examples of students who have succeeded when given supports and said leaders should “be focused on student success for all of our students.”

Board members did not engage with commenters during the public-comment period, consistent with the board’s announced rules for that segment of the meeting. The board chair noted the public-comment period concluded after the speakers had finished.