Live from NY: The DougCo Board of Education?
Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes
Since the new Douglas County Board of Education majority began implementing its systematic dismantling of our public school district earlier this year, they have refused to speak with the local mainstream media, instead only issuing written statements and granting interviews with far-right media outlets.
Earlier this month, DCSD Board Directors Mike Peterson and Kaylee Winegar appeared on FOX News to bash unions and defend firing Superintendent Corey Wise without cause.
That same day, the New York-based PAC that backed the Kids First slate also appeared on FOX News and praised the conservative majority members for "gutting the equity policy."
It makes you wonder: Who's really running our BoE ... and why are they so obsessed with our Equity Policy that took several years and many diverse stakeholders from the community to develop before it was unanimously approved?
If you're paying attention, you might take a closer look at the 1776 Project PAC and its founder, Ryan Girdusky. The same guy who tweeted this on election night:
Why is a billionaire from New York so invested in our local BoE, and why was he on FOX News (apparently pitched by the Kids First campaign manager, Holly Horn) speaking for our school board?
Because it's one more vehicle to promote their far-right agenda to eliminate equity in public schools. In fact, 1776 Project PAC takes ownership for helping to flip our local school board so the equity policy could be gutted:
Outside interest groups like 1776 Project PAC are impacting school boards across the country, but their influence is especially clear in their pet district … ours.
It's no coincidence that our current conservative majority seems inexperienced at every turn, completely unaware of school board policies and procedures. Groups like 1776 endorsed entire slates, versus single candidates, to overtake the majority in school districts.
No relevant experience was needed, just strong right-wing ideologies.
