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Wood County BOE backs resolution decrying racism

Resident calls for board member to resign over online post

Wood County Board of Education member Debbie Hendershot signs a board resolution Tuesday decrying racism and promising new programs on diversity and racial understanding for Wood County Schools staff and students. Hendershot has come under fire for a recent Facebook post concerning the Confederate flag and “southern heritage.” (Photo by Michael Erb)

PARKERSBURG — Amid continued calls for a school board member to resign over a racially insensitive online post, the Wood County Board of Education has approved a resolution decrying racism and promising new programs on diversity and racial understanding.

Board President Justin Raber read aloud the resolution as well as a statement on why he supported the resolution at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

“The Wood County Board of Education believes that it is incumbent on the Wood County Board of Education to educate our students and community about racism and injustices of all marginalized communities, and is committed to continuously improve our system to be more inclusive and equitable for all students,” according to the resolution. “The Wood County Board of Education vows to make decisions with a deliberate awareness of impediments to learning faced by students of color and/or diverse cultural, linguistic or socio-economic backgrounds.”

The resolution also directs Superintendent Will Hosaflook “to develop practices and policies that will reduce cultural biases and institutional barriers that may negatively impact student learning, perpetuate achievement gaps and impede equal access to a free education for all students, including all students of color.”

The board unanimously approved the resolution, and Raber asked each member as well as Hosaflook to sign the document.

Community member and parent Montana Lorraine renews calls to remove member Debbie Hendershot from the Wood County Board of Education during Tuesday’s school board meeting. (Photo by Michael Erb)

Earlier in the meeting, Wood County resident and parent Montana Lorraine came before the board for a second time concerning an online post by board member Debbie Hendershot and a demand for action.

Last month, Hendershot came under fire for sharing a meme on her Facebook page which featured the Confederate flag and compared “southern heritage” to Black History Month. Lorraine and other community members criticized the post which has come during a time of protests and national upheaval over systemic racism and police violence toward minorities.

Lorraine said Hendershot’s actions and the seeming inaction of the school board to address the incident have widened a divide in the community.

“The people have lost faith in Miss Hendershot’s ability to do her job fairly,” Lorraine said. “It is inexcusable the board has not spoken out during this time of civil unrest.”

Lorraine said it was the board’s responsibility to teach students about diversity and understanding and to help eliminate racial bias.

“We can help, and it is unacceptable to do anything less,” she said.

Lorraine demanded the board “remove” Hendershot, though state law does not allow for such action by the board, as well as an apology from Hendershot and a public statement from Wood County Schools against racism and intolerance.

Following Lorraine’s comments, Raber asked her to stay for the reading of the resolution which already was listed in a later part of the meeting agenda.

After reading aloud the resolution, Raber also read a prepared statement on why he felt it was needed for Wood County Schools. Raber singled out the Confederate flag, saying while in years past it had been a part of school culture, a concerted effort to remove the flag from schools began nearly 50 years ago.

“Within Wood County Schools, we must accept our history in that at one time the use of the Confederate flag was prominent within our schools,” Raber said. “In 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, Parkersburg South High School and Wood County Schools banned the use of the Confederate flag, as it is a sign of racism and prejudice. During this time, being led by the Parkersburg South Patriot, Parkersburg South ended the use of the Confederate flag and unveiled a new school flag and band uniforms to promote unity as the use of racist symbols have no place within our education system.

“Today, the Wood County Board of Education unequivocally believes that any use of the Confederate flag or symbols that are demeaning has no place within our schools.”

By policy, board members do not respond to speakers during public comments. In closing comments Tuesday, Hendershot thanked Raber for his work on the resolution, but did not say anything about the Facebook post or calls for her removal from the board.

Hendershot could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Contact Michael Erb at merb@newsandsentinel.com.

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