Chino Valley Unified School District Board Denies First Amendment Rights of Teacher and LGBTQIA+ Student; Possible Violation of The Brown Act
CHINO, CA - The recent actions of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board to silence a teacher and a LGBTQIA+ student at a public meeting have raised significant concerns regarding the infringement of First Amendment rights and potential violations of the Brown Act.
During a school board meeting on September 19, 2024, Board President Sonja Shaw abruptly cut off Chino Valley educator Natalie Cooney and former student and founder of the Gender Sexuality Alliance club Madison Kaylor from speaking, effectively denying them their right to voice concerns and engage in open dialogue about critical issues affecting public education. Both Cooney and Kaylor were commenting on the harm of a third attempt of the CVUSD Board to pass a “forced outing” policy targeting LGBTQIA+ students.
You can view video feed from the meeting of Natalie Cooney being silenced here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAOeK0tvgzg/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==a
You can view video feed from the meeting of Madison Kaylor being silenced here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAJWKg6vzVL/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
This disturbing decision not only undermines the democratic principles of free speech but also creates a chilling effect on those who wish to participate in the governance of their schools.
Madison Kaylor posted the following video on Instagram detailing her experience and reading her intended comments for the September 19, 2024, meeting here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAKBRjNSNK8/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The First Amendment guarantees all individuals the right to express their views freely, especially in public forums. Educators and students play a crucial role in shaping the educational environment, and their voices are essential in discussions about policies and school safety.
Ayala High School parent Jessica Santana was in attendance at the meeting and witnessed the speech censorship: "Last week's school board meeting was a reminder that’s it’s never been about protecting kids: it has always been about silencing queer kids and anyone in support. Ms Shaw clearly knows the harm she is causing and that is why she quickly cut the mics of a teacher and student who were there to speak about the harm her forced outing policy is causing. I was proud to see the young student speaker remain calm, focused and collected. Ms. Shaw can learn from her."
Furthermore, the Brown Act, which governs open meetings in California, mandates that public bodies conduct their meetings in a manner that encourages public participation. By restricting the ability of teachers and students to speak, the Chino Valley Unified School District Board may be in violation of this important legislation, which aims to ensure transparency and accountability in government.
"We are deeply concerned about the Board's decision to silence those who are most affected by its policies," said Christina Gagnier, Chief Executive Officer of Our Schools USA. "This blatant disregard for the rights of teachers and students not only threatens the integrity of our educational system but also sets a dangerous precedent for public discourse.
Community members, educators, and advocates are urged to stand together to demand respect for the First Amendment rights of all individuals and to call for adherence to the Brown Act.