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The American and Florida state flags fly over Highlands Elementary School in Kissimmee Wednesday. A resolution brought forward at Tuesday's School Board meeting would those flags couldn't be flown with any political action flags. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON
Despite passionate pleas by Osceola County School Board member Jon Arguello and some support from those in the community who came to Tuesday’s board meeting, the board did not vote on a pair of ordinances he brought forward to the meeting regarding the display of political flags or symbols in schools, and the district’s affiliation with a national library association.
Arguello proposed, and made motions for, a resolution to only allow the American and Florida state to be flown or displayed on school campuses — not allowing flags for causes like , say, Pride flags or Black Lives Matter — and another to sever ties with the American Library Association due to its “using their platform to push for ideological and political purposes.” But neither Board Chair Heather Kahoun or Vice Chair Terry Castillo seconded them, and with district 5 Erika Booth’s seat still vacant and board member Julius Melendez joining the meeting over the phone from a conference after this discussion, the motions died for lack of a second.
The resolution did allow for exceptions if the symbols have educational purposes. Arguello said after the meeting that he hears from parents that their students report seeing flags and images in classrooms and on vehicles, like Pride and BLM flags, or flags for political campaigns (i.e. Trump and Biden).
“I hear it all the time, and have seen it myself,” he said, noting that he has yet to see a flag of that nature on the main flagpole at a school. “There’s no victim here. Nobody has more diversity in their family here than I do. But we’ve replaced the alphabet and math problems and quotes on our (classroom) walls with politics.”
He said the district’s educational performance is not despite its educators not working hard enough.
“It’s because cowards manage this district from protecting your kids at all costs. That protection begins with preventing politics from being force-fed to your kids. The American flag represents everyone,” he said. “I would like to approve this motion so our kids and district can finally get on the path to removing all the distractions so we won’t be 66th (of 67 counties) in education and your kids’ diploma will actually have some meaning one day. That will only happen once we put politics aside.”
A number of residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting on the resolutions, with about two-thirds of the speakers in favor of them.
“You resist the will of this community, the majority of parents do not children to be sexualized, or tax dollars used to in support of grotesque organizations with political philosophies and agendas rejected by the citizens of Osceola County,” St. Cloud’s Laura McAdams said. “We are offended the School District would circumvent the role of the parent.
Jim Trautz of The Oaks said it was honor, courage and commitment that made America great, not diversity.
“Currently there is a conflict between what we teach at home and what is taught at school, and it puts our children in a position to choose between their families and their school,” he said. “They don’t deserve that conflict.”
Chris Fontenot, director of the Osceola County chapter of Citizen Defending Freedom, said any other flags are a distraction from the learning environment.
“The American flag is a symbol of love and respect for the country, the greatest country in the world.
Those against the resolution cited that the state Legislature brought up a similar bill during the recent legislative session – the Florida Senate did not hear it — and that it would ban ribbons for causes like cancer or autism awareness, which could infringe on the freedom of speech of students and school employees.
On the topic of the American Library Association, a non-profit that “promotes libraries and library education internationally” founded in 1876, Arguello said he objected to, “Its pervasive view of using their platform to push for political and ideological purposes.”
Per a school district spokesperson, the district currently has no paid membership with ALA, but does have a magazine subscription paid through the magazine company. The magazine contains book reviews which the school district is required to have by law.
After being elected the ALA president in 2022, Emily Drabinski told National Review, “I just cannot believe that a Marxist lesbian who believes that collective power is possible to build and can be wielded for a better world is the president-elect of (the ALA).” It was remarks like that which led Republican lawmakers in states like Illinois, South Carolina, Montana, Arizona and some Florida counties to request its libraries withdraw support from the ALA.
“The organization works to turn libraries to a place where Socialism can be rampant. That’s my issue,” Arguello said. “When you’re working with kids, there’s a different level of protection involved.”
John Labriola, representing the Christian Family Coalition, encouraged its passing from the audience. He hails from Citrus County, one of the counties that reportedly cut ties with the ALA.
“If it’s run by a Marxist lesbian, that not appropriate for representation in schools,” he said.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Arguello opined, “Media specialists, if they need the ALA to do their jobs, then we need new media specialists. I want a professional that can think for themselves and make something good happen for our kids without the interference of a organization which, on its website tells you their goal is to indoctrinate your kids and transform librarians into social justice advocates.”
Per the ALA’s website, on Monday, Raymond Pun of California was elected its 2024-25 president-elect.
