Parent removed from Decatur school board meeting after opposing DEI repeal

Whitaker said the district relies on federal money to fund programs like special education, school nutrition, homeless assistance and Title I (support for low-income schools).

School board Chair Carmen Sulton acknowledged that some states and school districts have refused to comply with the order, but noted Georgia hasn’t joined them.

“As active and engaged members and parents of the city of Decatur community, this board is fully aware of our community’s values, which we wholeheartedly share. However, as a public school district in the state of Georgia that depends heavily on millions to operate the City Schools of Decatur, our personal beliefs cannot supersede our fiduciary responsibility to provide high quality learning environments and services for our students,” Sulton said.

Parent Lena Kotler was removed shortly after interrupting Sulton’s comments by calling board members “cowards.” Decatur police picked her up as she shouted, “This is what fascists do!” according to one video of the incident.

Kotler said police removed her and put her on the ground outside the building where the meeting was being held. She agreed to stay outside until the meeting ended. Then she left. She was not arrested.

“People have said, ‘But you were so calm (during the removal),’ and I want people to know that I was scared,” Kotler told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“You just have to make the decision about who you want to be and what you want to stand for and then just do it … even though you’re scared,” she said.

Kotler had come to speak in opposition to the policy changes during the meeting’s public comment period. She has three children in the school district. One is on the autism spectrum, one is transgender and the other is nonbinary.

“We have had to fight with the district to have my child’s (special education plan) followed (and) handle my trans child being harassed for her gender identity,” she said.

She fears changing the district’s equity policies could weaken protections for her children and others who are vulnerable.

The school district issued a statement that reads, in part:

“A segment of the meeting is allocated for public comments, allowing community members to voice their opinions to the board. A recent removal of an individual occurred due to an outburst before the public comment period, followed by their refusal to leave when asked.

The board chair consistently reads a statement at the beginning of public comment, which highlights the following points: Speakers should be courteous and professional. Speakers are not to list complaints about specific personnel or individuals connected with the District in a public session. The board strictly prohibits abusive language, threats, comments, jeers, applause, or shouts from the floor. Disruptive persons will be asked to leave the meeting room.”

The statement went on to say the repealed and revised policies were chosen on the advice of the district’s legal counsel.

The school board’s decision about the policies may come as a surprise to some, given Decatur’s progressive reputation. The school district, for example, required staff members to get vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and considered requiring students to get them. Officials didn’t seem to flinch despite displeasing Gov. Brian Kemp, who had issued an executive order banning state agencies from requiring vaccines.

Whitaker also seemed to indicate that equitable student outcomes were a priority for her during her swearing-in ceremony in June of 2023. Delivering prepared remarks, she said CSD was “a good district that will be a great district when ‘all’ really means ‘all.’”