Parents and community members demand accountability after board member reads racial slur aloud
Summary
Multiple patrons and educators told the Francis Howell board that Director Jane Pushkar read the n-word aloud at a prior meeting; callers urged censure, training, and content warnings for posted videos while board members debated free-speech and process limits.
A string of public commentators on Dec. 11 urged the Francis Howell School District Board of Education to take action after a board member read the racial slur commonly described in public testimony as the n-word during a previous meeting.
Harry Harris told trustees he "suddenly heard Director Pushkar utter the slur for black people..." and called the act "an irresponsible use treading on the bigoted history of our country." Carrie Zawoski and Jamie Martin, among other patrons, said the word was read aloud without context and asked the board to censure Director Pushkar, remove her committee duties, and require training for trustees.
Several speakers pointed to The Glass Castle, explaining the book does include the word in quoted historical context but argued that reading it aloud from the dais without framing caused harm to Black community members present and to children who can now access recordings posted online. Christine McLaughlin asked the board to add a content warning to the meeting video and to expand cultural-awareness training.
Trustees repeatedly stressed that patrons may criticize the board and that public comment rules permit speakers to share viewpoints. President Blair said patrons and board members have free-speech protections and reminded speakers the board expects civility under existing rules. Some board members urged the formal challenge and election process for removing officials, while others said censure has been used elsewhere and remains an option.
The district’s public record in this meeting shows repeated public calls for censure and training; the board did not take immediate disciplinary action during the Dec. 11 session.
