Contract Amendment with Freedom Soul Media Education Initiatives

2024-2025 Contract Amendment with Freedom Soul Media Education Initiatives (FSMEI) and Franklin-McKinley School District

Freedom Soul Media Education Initiatives (FSMEI) will curate a curriculum and course for Black/African American students at Sylvandale Middle School with a pilot to network with the current program at Shirakawa, and provide professional development for teachers and administrators during January - June of 2025.

This will bring the new not to exceed amount to $119,000.

I voted NO on this because it is "discriminatory and prejudiced". I argued that this "for Black/African Americans ONLY" program in our schools discriminates against all other ethnicities in our district who may also be struggling in their academics. I asked, 'Can we have all ethnicities participate in this program since we are supposed to be about DEI, and equity, and equality for all?' I continued, ‘Or maybe we can have a program for every ethnic group in our district.’

The Board Members (including Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez, who are both running for reelection in 2026) voted YES. I voted NO since in my opinion it is discrimination and is against the law (Brown v. Board of Education, 1954).

**It must be noted that Board Member Rudy Rodriguez said in his comments, "I'm just appalled! I mean we have one white person on our board, and he's talking like he's from the KKK. It's as simple as that. I mean it is just so unacceptable that I'm kind of embarrassed that it would even come up at this board meeting... I don't even know why we pulled it. It's embarrassing. So, I'm going to support it.