The Jefferson County, CO public schools' board majority it out of control - on some sort of high & mighty trip - as if they're accountable to no one. This has got to stop.
Board majority members John Newkirk & Ken Witt bullied & attempted to intimidate a Jeffco student (and a minor) at the end of the school board meeting this past Thursday evening/Friday morning. Why? To try to shut her up and intimidate her and everyone else - to let us know they're watching us?!
Here's the video of the attach and an article from ColoradoPols about it- doesn't show the screenshot that Mr. Newkirk (super sleuth) dug up while trolling tweets where the student "like"ed a tweet about having a burrito at a long meeting - taking it as a racial slur to Ms. Lisa Pinto's (Jeffco's Communication Officer) hispanic heritage.
Seriously - let's stop and think about this for a minute. Julie Williams SHARED a post from a known LGBT HATE GROUP - for all to see - Witt nor Newkirk say a thing and refuse to even acknowledge a request from the Jeffco PTA for her censure.
BUT - a student "like"s a tweet about wanting a burrito during a long meeting and Witt refuses to "have any association with that group." Wow - just write off the WHOLE group over a perceived racial slur.
Wow, Mr. Witt - you're not doing yourself any favors here. Look at Witt's face when Jill Fellman mentions Jeffco Students for Change - the smile/smirk. Grow up, Mr. Witt - this is not a game - and you are an elected official - accountable to all of your constituents - especially the students.
On top of this, they instigated some new rule that you can only speak once to the board - since when? Their "people" speak in mass over and over again (although no real harm done because they are rarely organized w/their thoughts and just make their whole group look even more clueless) - but nope - not those opposed to this board majority - they're only allowed to speak once. Despicable.
Don't stand for this - let the board majority know you're paying attention and you find their behavior totally unacceptable. Better yet, you can file a harassment claim. Seriously.
At the very least, send a letter to the school board at board@jeffco.k12.co.us. See Terri Straut's email below...
Mr. Witt,
Please provide the language on the website instructions about public comment or in policy that indicates that an individual cannot be a part of more than one group. I have watched your supporters parse their public comments into piles in the ladies room to figure out who is addressing what topic. One particularly incoherent individual speaks in multiple groups numerous at a single Board meeting, she has for many months now. Do the rules not apply to your supporters, only those you don't care to hear from?
I find it very curious that you introduced new rules, not written down any where that I can find, just when the student groups had multiple different public comment topics to address. You denied a minor student the opportunity to share her own journey through suicidal ideation, with the caring support of her teachers. She is a shining example of living forward after that pain and you, once again, took away her student voice. Shame on you.
The district's singling out a 17 year old student, by name in communication to principals and teachers surely must break at least policy, and probably the law. You and Mr. Newkirk bullying the same student at a public board meeting is over the line. We wouldn't tolerate students treating other students in that manner. Teachers have lost their jobs over lesser infringements. Do you really think you are above the law, above reproach? You owe the student and her family a public apology.
This morning we learned that the district has clipped the last part of the Board meeting video from last night so that you can try to hide your malicious attack on a minor.
You are a pathetic excuse of a public official.
Terri Taylor Straut
Jeffco Parent and Advocate