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| Melanie Rettler |
Chandler, AZ – School boards in Arizona and across the country are coming under fire from angry parents and outsiders.
There was a smattering of applause, and a mild rebuke from board President Barb Mozdzen.
“Your comments really need to be related to what the school board can do something about,” Mozdzen said to Rettler.
Rettler isn’t a Chandler parent. She couldn’t be reached for comment.
Speakers do have a First Amendment right to share their opinions during the public comment portion of School Board meetings.
A parent who closely follows Chandler Unified school board meetings wasn’t surprised by the outburst.
“This didn’t come out of nowhere,” attorney Laura Lawless said in an interview. Lawless’ 13-year-old daughter attends a Chandler Unified school, and next fall her 4-year-old son will also enroll in a Chandler school.
“There’s been a sentiment bubbling for months and years tolerant of the message of racism and discrimination,” Lawless said.
Interim Chandler School Superintendent Frank Narducci issued this statement about the board meeting:
“We strongly denounce the anti-Semitic statement made. All Chandler Unified School District students, staff, and community members deserve to feel safe, respected and valued.”
The Antidefamation League of Arizona urged the district to “publicly demonstrate – in the strongest possible way – their commitment to fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate.”
