Florida education leaders vote on new school policies

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Board of Education held a meeting in Orlando on Wednesday, where they faced a long day of public comment and discussions.

The main focus of the meeting was to adjust school rules and policies in preparation for the upcoming new school year.

Throughout the afternoon, there were cheers, booing, and waving of signs and flags, reflecting the intense emotions surrounding some of the decisions made, particularly those related to African-American studies and LGBTQ+ policies.

Florida law now requires that curriculum demonstrates that, “no person is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex.”

Opponents of the new curriculum brought concerns that the curriculum was watered down. Others were concerned about how the Ocoee Massacre was taught.

Under the new curriculum approved by the board, teachers are expected to show how acts of violence were perpetuated against and by African Americans during the massacre.

“So please let’s take a step back. Let’s make sure the history covers both perspectives. When you look at this history currently, it suggests it was sparked violence from African Americans. That’s blaming the victim,” said State Senator Geraldine Thompson.

One of the most debated decisions was about a new bathroom policy.

The board voted in favor of a rule stating that people must use the restroom corresponding to their sex at birth unless there is a unisex bathroom available.

This policy, like others discussed during the meeting, was implemented to comply with state law.

Supporters of the policy, such as Jessica Tillmann, Seminole County Chairwoman for Moms for Liberty, showed up wearing blue t-shirts to advocate for the laws and ensure the school board enforces them.

“Our legislators work very hard to put the legislation through, and our board of education needs to understand that we support these rules as well,” said Tillmann.

On the other side, LGBTQ+ activists spoke out, hoping that the Board of Education would reject the new laws. Their concerns centered around the potential impact on LGBTQ+ students and their rights.

Another significant topic addressed during the meeting was related to extracurricular activities.

The board approved a policy that empowers parents to choose what name their child is called in class.

However, there was contention surrounding a ban on “adult live performances” on school property, which could include drag performances.

Scarlett Seyler, an Orange County high school student, expressed concerns about the policy’s requirement for teachers to inform parents of any extracurricular activity or event, fearing that it might lead to negative consequences for some students.

“There’s really minimal hope that we can come out of this not hurt, that students won’t be hurt today,” said Seyler. “But the reason we’re here today is to show queer students that there is support within their community.”

The Board of Education also voted to ban TikTok from schools and introduced job opportunities for prospective teachers who failed their general knowledge test.