A North Texas school board president has vindicated allegations made by outraged parents that elements of a controversial leftist cultural plan—which promotes agendas such as the LGBTQ movement—were already being implemented despite citizen objection and the board postponing approval. Carroll ISD School Board President Michelle Moore claims the board already voted to implement portions of it in 2018, and those are being implemented this year.
Earlier this month, under massive pressure from parents, the board of the Carroll Independent School District delayed implementing a controversial “Cultural Competence Action Plan” (CCAP), that was developed after a 2018 social media post where district students were using racial slurs.
- “Create a systemic process for consistently tracking and reporting microaggressions and incidents of discrimination.”
- Establish an LGBTQ+ student focus group (grades 9-12), an equity and inclusion grievance process system, and expand the school’s tip line to collect allegations of microaggressions.
The curriculum defined microaggressions as “everyday verbal or nonverbal, snubs or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized or underrepresented group membership.”
The plan, including setting up a tracking and reporting system on students the school deemed “offensive,” would cost local taxpayers $425,000 to start, with a yearly cost of a quarter of a million dollars from 2021-2025—altogether close to $1.5 million. Nowhere is an appeals process listed, nor a guarantee those accused of “microaggressions” would be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Monday, parents came back and confronted the board, claiming CCAP was already being implemented despite citizen opposition and the board delaying the vote. Board President Michelle Moore told parents during the meeting: “It’s not being implemented.”
Parents also complained about school officials harassing those opposed to the plan, and claimed Vice-Principal Josephine Jones made a social media post denigrating white people.
“What does she mean by ‘de-center whiteness’,” Cathy Delcalvo asked the board regarding Jones’ social media post.
Texas Scorecard sent press inquiries to the entire board regarding these allegations, but only Moore and Board Member Todd Carlton replied. Carlton said he wasn’t at the board meeting and didn’t hear the complaints. He copied our request to the district’s assistant superintendent, adding “she is the district employee that generally handles press inquiries.”
Moore’s response was different and seemed to contradict what she told parents Monday.
“The Carroll ISD Cultural Competence Action Plan (CCAP) under discussion at the August 3 Board meeting included a number of action items that had already been completed with Board approval,” Moore wrote.
She added that after the social media incident in 2018, “… the District already had developed a basic CCAP.”
“Components of the plan were shared publicly at our November 2, 2018 Board meeting by then President Sheri Mills weeks after the racial slur video went public. That action plan was for immediate implementation and a copy of the original document is attached. Part of that plan was to begin training staff (which we began doing in 2020) and also to put a citizen’s advisory group together which became the DDC.”
Moore’s response, contrary to her testimony during the meeting, confirms parents’ allegations that Carroll ISD teachers have indeed already been undergoing CCAP training, and CCAP is being implemented.
Moore provided a copy of the “basic CCAP,” which does include items seen in the CCAP document from this year.
“Basic CCAP” items such as “emphasizing cultural competence” in the K-12 curriculum, for all staff to undergo “diversity training” are scheduled to have started in 2019.
In her response, she also did not deny the allegations about Jones’ social media post.
“While some posts could be actionable by the district if policy is violated, simply restating something one has learned or disagreeing with one’s opinions does not rise to the level of an actionable offense,” she said
A copy of Moore’s response can be found here. A copy of the “basic CCAP” can be found here.
“The board and the district have attempted to shove this down the people’s throats, and the people are rising up,” said Tim O’Hare, a Carroll ISD parent and former chairman of the Tarrant County GOP. “This won’t stand and Southlake residents in huge numbers are fighting back to make sure our schools don’t indoctrinate our children into leftist, socialist ideology.”
Texas Scorecard has sent press inquiries to the rest of the board asking for a response to her statement.
Concerned parents are encouraged to watch for and participate in the CCAP board workshops and community engagement sessions that will be held. They are also encouraged to contact their Carroll ISD board members.
Michelle Moore: michelle.moore@southlakecarroll.edu
Todd Carlton: todd.carlton@southlakecarroll.edu
David Almand: david.almand@southlakecarroll.edu
Danny Gilpin: danny.gilpin@southlakecarroll.edu
Eric Lannen: eric.lannen@southlakecarroll.edu
Sheri Mills: sheri.mills@southlakecarroll.edu
Matt Bryant: matt.bryant@southlakecarroll.edu
