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School Board Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher shared his research on Critical Race Theory at the last Board meeting — and it wasn't complimentary. This was one of the slides from his presentation.
Critical Race Theory should not be taught in Osceola County’s public schools.
That message comes from a couple of fronts. Gov. Ron DeSantis led a push in June to have the Department of Education ban the controversial teachings that examine how racism impacted the county’s founding and formative years.
But the message also comes locally from Frank Kruppenbacher, the Osceola County School District Attorney who studied the specifics of CRT, and whether the district’s New Teacher Center, a mentoring source for the county’s newest educators, was grooming teachers to include it in lesson plans.
The attorney shared his findings at the last School Board meeting, noting he does not “have a high opinion of this intellectual thought process.”
“Some of the writings on this stuff, as an American, are frankly frightening to me,” Kruppenbacher said. “I applaud the state and governor for saying we’re not having it taught.”
He said he found it’s most commonly taught as a graduate course, so the content is not recommended for K-12, or endorsed by the Osceola County School District.
Britannica defines CRT as: “the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons.”
Many parents spoke out about CRT, and materials their children had received in school about it, at the meeting during the ‘Hear the Audience’ portion, and Kruppenbacher said he’d get in contact with them to investigate.
All texts used in the district come from an approved list from the Department of Education, Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace said.
In the New Teacher Center's online materials, parents have found references to race and “equity”, and tied them to CRT.
“People use this term the minute the term ‘race’ comes up. Based on how I’m reading it you can almost accuse anything of being critical race theory,” Kruppenbacher said Tuesday. “It is not part of our school curriculum. It is not to be part of the curriculum. Personally I don’t think any teachers in the K-12 system should be voicing any opinions on issues like this, they should be talking about the facts of the history of the U.S.
“I can’t assure that every single teacher doesn’t somehow engage in CRT discussions. If it is it isn’t endorsed by our district. I can tell you, that’s gotta be reported to us and it needs to be investigated.”
Board members like Terry Castillo and Jon Arguello said language put in place by the Teaching Center, which the district has contracted with for about five years, to serve students.
“(CRT uses) terms and theories we don’t fully understand,” Castillo said.
Arguello said he’s seen it taught firsthand; two of his sons appear to be from different cultures.
“Their education has been philosophically different,” he said. “I see CRT as an ugly, cynical way of getting these ideas into young minds.”
Kruppenbacher noted that, in the current climate, mentioning the word ‘race’ equates with critical race theory. “On the other side, we’re teaching about slavery and the history of the country. This Board isn’t equipped to look at what is and isn’t CRT.”
Kruppenbacher also addressed the School Board’s “Hear the Audience” forum, when speakers, and Arguello, noted the County Commission does not allow public comment on matters not on the meeting’s agenda. The School Board’s policy is more liberal, allowing for all comment.
“It would be illegal and inappropriate to not have a forum … off the standard public agenda portion where the public can address the full board. As long as I’m sitting here, that would be my legal position,” he said, a comment met with applause from the audience.
Coincidently, at the meeting, the School Board also extended Kruppenbacher’s contract as School Board Attorney through June 30, 2025, and gave him a raise of $3,000 per month to $18,000 per month.
As stated in the agenda item: “During his years of service, the General Counsel has significantly reduced legal expenditures; reduced liability claims; and has been immediately responsive to the Board and its members. He has been professional, ethical, and is a critical part of the Board's team and his continued role assures the Board of continuity needed for its success. The General Counsel is virtually here every day and his duties have expanded considerably. There has been no adjustment in his compensation during that time, and the new contract adds an additional $3,000 per month for his services.”
