SAFETY of FMSD students is and always will be paramount and our first priority!
Written By Marc Cooper for Franklin McKinley School Board 2026
The last FMSD Board meeting was on 5/26/2026. I’ve provided highlights and my comments: https://www.youtube.com/live/gX46SzXdceE?si=SdTGvPO6h6GIOeRZ
5. RECOGNITIONS: Items 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, and 5.04 the Board and the community celebrated the accomplishments of our FMSD students and staff:
Santa Clara County of Alliance of Black Educators
Employee SPIRIT Awards https://fmsd.community.highbond.com/document/2b938e4d-9893-462d-9ce1-725bbd1db016/
Global Learners Student Recognition - 3rd Trimester https://fmsd.community.highbond.com/document/0b50439b-ef5c-4266-ba67-826fec342599/
2025-2026 Presentation of Third Grade Pathway to Biliteracy Participation https://fmsd.community.highbond.com/document/6c51f7c6-2b80-444a-9b00-00eb36bdbf27/
11. CONSTRUCTION ITEMS: Item 11.02 regarding Jahn Plumbing Bid-Bottle Filler and Foundation Installation at Bridges Academy and Sylvandale Middle Schools-Bid No. 2026-185 was addressed and challenged by a member of the community. Later in the meeting, Superintendent Cruz and Chief Financial Officer, Jason Vann, gave comments regarding the challenge to the bid in question.
https://fmsd.community.highbond.com/document/a4352db8-7a0d-43dc-a138-d7f0ed97f797/
https://fmsd.community.highbond.com/document/0d8b961a-e560-49ec-a611-ed679ff19dcb/
(See video recording of comments made during the Board meeting from 1:33:16 to 1:39:20)
https://www.youtube.com/live/gX46SzXdceE?si=O_WM8M2FV61d4TV7
I did not think enough information was provided to rebut the community member’s claim. I voted to ABSTAIN. (Another Board trustee also voted to Abstain).
12. ACTION ITEMS: I will share why I voted to “ABSTAIN” on Item 12.04 “Resolution 2026-26 - Juneteenth”, and why I voted “NO” on Item 12.05 “Resolution No. 2026-25 - In Support of LGBTQ+ Pride Month.”
Item 12.04: Juneteenth Resolution (Juneteenth Resolution)
My comments and the reason I voted to ABSTAIN from voting:
In the first WHEREAS statement, it is stated: “is an annual holiday honoring the freeing of African Americans in the United States,”
(The next WHEREAS statement clearly stated “the Emancipation Proclamation was passed by President Abraham Lincoln in January 1863. It wasn’t until June 19 th , 1865 that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved people in the country;”)
** My assertion is it is NOT necessary to have a Juneteenth celebration if the basis is to celebrate the “freeing of enslaved African Americans in the United States.” THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TWO YEARS EARLIER BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN!
In the fifth WHEREAS statement, it is stated “provides an opportunity for Franklin-McKinley School District to honor the gift and achievements of African Americans, promoting cultural diversity, understanding, and fullness,”
** My assertion is that we ALREADY DO THIS FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
Item 12.05: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Resolution LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Resolution
My comments and the reason I voted NO:
In the first WHEREAS statement, it is stated that “members of the Franklin-McKinley Board of Education support the rights, freedoms, and quality of those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+).”
** My assertion is that we ALREADY support the rights of all students in our schools! We do that by law.
In the second through twentieth WHEREAS statements, a list of historical and factoids regarding legislative and historical events regarding homosexual and lesbians is provided.
** My assertion is that these are Not Necessary to be inserted into a resolution with the stated intent to “support the rights, freedoms, and quality of those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, an asexual,”
In the 21 st WHEREAS statement, it is stated “FMSD raised the Pride Flag in support of…students and creating inclusive campuses.”
** My assertion is that We ALREADY do that for ALL students!
In the NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED statement, it states that “the FMSD Board of Education stands in solidarity with and for the LGBTQIA+ students in opposing discriminatory legislation that aims to prohibit classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity;”
** My assertion is that many of our students and parents in our FMSD community have communicated that they favor legislation to prohibit classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity IN THE CLASSROOMS. Many parents and students have expressed that they prefer those kinds of topics be discussed and handled at home, and NOT in the classrooms. It makes them feel “uncomfortable.”
In the BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED statement, it states “the FMSD proclaims and commemorates June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, October 11th as National Coming Out Day, October 17 th as Spirit Day, November 20 th as Transgender Day of Remembrance, and April 22 nd as Day of Silence to honor the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community;”
** My assertion is that many of our students and their parents in our FMSD community have communicated that they do NOT favor celebrating and commemorating LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, National Coming Out Day, Spirit Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and Day of Silence in our schools. They have vehemently stressed that those celebrations and observances are personal in nature and do NOT belong in schools. Many students and parents in our FMSD have communicated that schools are primarily for teaching their students to read, write, do math, learn science, history, government, and the arts.
In the next three (3) Be It Further Resolved statements, they mention “FMSD supports adoption, implementation, and enforcement of policies that support the safety and educational achievement of LGBTQIA+ students” and to “…improve overall school climate.”
** My assertion is that SAFETY of our FMSD students, regardless of creed, color, culture, gender, ethnicity, or beliefs, is and always will be paramount and our first priority! The inclusion of the rhetorical statement is not necessary! It implies we don’t do provide safety for LGBTQIA+ students, which is COMPLETELY false!
