FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hartland Citizens Call for the Resignation of All Hartland School Board Officers
Previously Reported Here: 📰📑🗞
HARTLAND, MI—
On September 16, 2024, by a vote of 4-3, the Board of Education
(BOE) for Hartland Consolidated Schools (HCS), voted to enter into a contract with the
Biden/Harris Department of Justice (DOJ). Even though the DOJ stated it has not found
HCS to be in violation of federal law with respect to racial discrimination, the Board of Education chose to voluntarily obligate itself to expose young children to the controversial ideology of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
This contract agreement has created an uproar in the local school community such that four citizens are now calling for the resignation of all BOE Officers. The officers include President Meghan Glabach, Vice-President Kristen Coleman, Treasurer Chris Costa, and Secretary Cindy Shaw. Among those calling for the resignations include Trisha Fessler, Director of Community Outreach for Hartland Voters, a grassroots citizen organization. Fessler is joined by Tyffany Baird, Jeff Scott, and Angela Yarber. Baird, Scott, and Yarber are seeking election to the Hartland Board of Education in November 2024.
By way of this agreement, HCS ceded its authority, enabling the federal government to dictate what local school children will be taught with respect to race relations. Further, HCS race relations training will be administered by Great Lake Equity Center (GLEC), a third-party entity under contract with the DOJ and assigned to “partner” with HCS.
In a troubling display on its website, GLEC states that persons belonging to any of these categories (white, Christian, heterosexual, US born, or English speaking only) are privileged and are also oppressors of others.
“There is absolutely no good reason why the BOE should have abdicated its authority to biased entities that do not share the values of our community,” said Angela Yarber. Yarber is a public school teacher with three children having either graduated from or currently attending HCS. Yarber continued, “The BOE chose to introduce indoctrination into our community’s schools. They chose indoctrination over education while also interjecting politics into the classroom. This is inexcusable.”
Sensing community concern with the agreement, Superintendent Chuck Hughes conducted a 1-hour town hall meeting on September 27, 2024. About 50 citizens packed this question and answer session. Immediately prior to the town hall, some of these citizens carried signs and staged a peaceful protest against the agreement.
A video recording of this town hall indicated that a clear majority of citizens were opposed to the agreement. County Commissioner Wes Nakagiri stated, “You’re bringing this crap into our schools.” Only one citizen appeared to express support for the agreement, though she was ejected from the meeting by a Sheriff’s Deputy for creating a disturbance. Kristen Coleman and Cindy Shaw, two BOE officers who voted in favor of the agreement, also attended the meeting. However, they chose not to speak or address any of the citizens’ questions and comments. It is unclear why these two supporters chose not to defend their votes.
“Schools should have local control and any board member who votes otherwise should step down immediately for the sake of this community,” states Jeff Scott, an entrepreneur with three young children in the district. Tyffany Baird, school volunteer and mom of two students, says, “Superintendent Hughes is choosing to extend the DOJ agreement and the district's failure to involve parents in this decision undermines transparency and trust, leaving us out of critical choices that impact our children.”
Trisha Fessler also issued a call for the officers’ resignations. She cited “unfair villainization of our children and the stigmatization of our beloved community,” in an open letter to the community. Her letter also stated that absent BOE officers stepping down, Hartland Voters would explore all options, including recalling those who voted for the agreement.
# # #
Comments