California School Board President Call for Christ Centered: A California school board president faces criticism for seeking input from “Christ-centered” parents on their children’s education. Julie Leavens Hupp, a School Board Trustee for RUSD, posted on Facebook to invite “Christ-centered” and “family-focused” parents to join an advisory group.
Hupp’s post coincided with parents in RUSD signing up for advisory groups. In her Facebook post, she emphasized the importance of parental involvement in decisions, such as implementing a new curriculum. As your school board, we’ve worked hard to involve parents in important decisions like the new curriculum. We need you. The sign-up forms for the advisory group were sent today. We need as many Christ-centered parents as possible in those groups. Please review and determine what you can do this year. We appreciate your support. Together, we’ll keep our kids safe and happy!”
Hupp’s message received negative feedback in the comments, with almost 200 replies. Critics claimed her call violated the separation of church and state, with some demanding her resignation. One person claimed it violated the First Amendment’s separation of church and state. Someone else anticipated her callback, while another insisted on her immediate removal from the Rocklin School Board.
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Some of Hupp’s fans praised her position and appreciated her care for the community and children. One commenter thanked Hupp for her work: “Thank you for looking out for our kids and community. We appreciate your efforts and stand with you. Apologies for the hate you receive from those who seek acceptance but do not reciprocate. It’s funny how that works.
Opinions on Hupp’s statement vary, but the Rocklin Unified School District in California, overseeing 17 schools and 11,405 children, addressed the issue. An RUSD spokesperson addressed Hupp’s social media posts, emphasizing the district’s dedication to diversity and equality. “Trustee Hupp values our diverse community and wants committees to reflect that,” the statement said. The debate on personal beliefs and faith in education and policy has been ongoing. As the situation unfolds, it raises questions about the balance between personal beliefs and the principles of inclusion and separation of church and state in schools.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the gender identity policy in the Rocklin School District?
On September 6, the board made a 4-1 decision to mandate that school staff must notify parents when a student explores or transitions their gender identity. This includes situations where students want to be called by a different name or pronoun, or need to use facilities that don’t match their biological sex at birth.
Who is the vice president of the LAUSD?
On December 12, 2023, in Los Angeles, CA, Jackie Goldberg secured her position as President of the Board of Education for another term. Scott M. Schmerelson also retained his role as Vice President.