League of Women Voters and NAACP urge Manatee board to keep proclamations; board agrees to revise policy language

Members of the League of Women Voters and the NAACP told the School Board of Manatee County on Feb. 14 they support the continued use of board proclamations to recognize educational programs and community observances and urged the board not to require unanimity for passage. Marilyn (Mary Lynn) Parker of the League and Dr. Barbara Aaron, chair of the NAACP education committee, said proclamations help educate the public and recognize local school achievements.

At the workshop several board members voiced differing views. Board member Miss Felton argued proclamations promote curriculum‑related topics such as Holocaust Remembrance and Black History Month and said a supermajority requirement would be an outlier in democratic practice. Other members, including Mr. Tatum, urged limiting proclamations to items strictly tied to Florida instructional standards and recommended that a simple board majority be sufficient to adopt proclamations rather than unanimity. Some members expressed concern that proclamations could be used for political messaging and that clear “guardrails” were needed.

Action and next steps The board directed staff and legal counsel to revise the proposed policy language on proclamations and to remove the proclamation item from the March advertisement so staff can return with alternative drafts. Board members asked for options that would (a) tie proclamations to Florida instructional standards and state statute; (b) require a simple board majority rather than unanimity or a supermajority; and (c) set an advance submission timeline for proposed proclamations so board members have adequate review time. No final vote was taken; staff will draft alternative language and meet with board members individually before the item is reintroduced.

Community arguments and examples Supporters said proclamations help recognize local educators and historically under‑represented groups, increase public awareness of district programs, and are not inherently political when tied to curriculum. Opponents cautioned the district should avoid proclamations that single out groups by race, religion or ethnicity, and suggested the district use other recognitions such as presentations and named dedications instead.

Ending: The board asked staff and counsel to return with revised policy options (including majority thresholds and instructional‑standards language) and scheduled additional briefings; the policy will not be considered on the March 11 voting agenda in its current form.