The #Souderton Area School District has dropped its ban on two parents and a former student from attending school board meetings following an #ACLU-PA lawsuit contending that the ban was a violation of the First Amendment. https://www.aclupa.org/en/press-releases/souderton-area-school-district-lifts-board-meeting-ban-parents-and-former-student #MontCoPa #pennsylvania #publicSchools #freespeech #billformica
#BillFormica
"The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the law firm Ramsingh Legal, PLLC, filed a lawsuit today asking a federal court to stop the Souderton Area School District from banning two parents and one former student from school property in retaliation for criticizing a school board member who posted lewd comments about Vice President Kamala Harris on social media." https://www.aclupa.org/en/press-releases/aclu-pennsylvania-files-lawsuit-against-souderton-area-school-district-over-free
#Souderton #PublicSchools #BillFormica #ACLU #Pennsylvania #FreeSpeech
#Souderton residents continue to press calls for action in Formica controversy https://www.mcall.com/2024/10/25/souderton-residents-continue-to-press-calls-for-action-in-formica-controversy/ #BillFormica
‘We’re gonna hold him accountable’: Calls grow for Bill Formica’s resignation at tense Souderton school board meeting https://whyy.org/articles/souderton-bill-formica-school-board-meeting-harris-tweet/
#Souderton #Pennsylvania #PublicSchools #BillFormica
Well, that #Souderton Area #PublicSchool district meeting tonight was the wildest thing I've been to in a long time. A mass of folks calling for the resignation of #BillFormica and dozens defending him as a stalwart of conservative thinking in the community. I wish school board meetings could always pack a several hundred seat auditorium like a summer blockbuster movie but not because one of its members called the Vice President a mass fellator on Twitter/X.
Thread roll up: https://vees.net/local/pa/montco/sasd/board-20240829/
Part 1: https://epistolary.org/@vees/113047225234186778
Chair calls time.
Next is adjournment.
Motion by Mr Nelson, seconded, ayes carry motion.
Fin.
Widener: You imply that women and students of SASD are incapable of achieving high positions without sex acts.
Audience: “Pay attention, Bill!”
Widener: Consistent attacks and ongoing attitude are unacceptable. Comments this evening say he is not apologetic and does not know why his comments are bad. I forgive you and I do love Jesus but you must resign. Addressing the board, says hold your colleague accountable.
Mercen: Voted to elect all present board members. Majority elected them, which is why they are in office. Losers do not get to subvert the election process to install “radical leftist candidates on the board. By revealing that demand, these activists showed their hand.” Says opponents are only pretending to care about character, and can’t help interrupting people and can’t shut up. Says psychological help is basically threatening “reeducation camps.” Says demands of activists will not be met. Why are they checking his personal posts? Why would they know?
Audience yells: “They’re public.”
Mercen: “Monitoring their enemy for what George Orwell called thoughtcrimes.” Formica supporters wild applause.
Shaw: Absent.
Widener next.
Unknown speaker: Not one Republican stood for the veteran. Chastises anyone who threatened Formica, then says to the board “you might not recognize that, it’s the Right Thing.”
“Every woman in here knows men just like you.” You want to be the black sheep but it’s “still a fucking sheep.”
Chair asks to refrain.
“She [Derstine] can read 50 Shades of Grey but I can’t say that?"
Audience applauds.
Closes with “When people show who they are, believe them.”
Another unknown steps up, I can't hear their name because of the applause.
Unknown next speaker: Opens with disappointed with what’s happened to this country. “If it’s true it needs to be said.” She’s another book banner. Audience is not having it.
Chair says to audience “one more chance.”
Unknown: So much hate here. Kids see parents booing and shouting down because there might be something that would offend them. “Well we’re offended.” Says Formica had a right to say what he said. “All you hear is the mainstream media telling their lies about Trump and everyone else.”
“Wokeness in this whole land, we will skip over socialism and right into communism.” She continues, “We don’t need sex education.”
Chair calls time.
Previous thread is here https://epistolary.org/@vees/113047225234186778
Suminetti: Says she's been here before when it was time to replace Schuren with Formica. Everyone expected Schuren would be replaced by a close friend. Calls it cronyism and submission, a global embarrassment. Board failed in its duty, should be ashamed. All board should be held accountable. Was personally target of Formica misogyny, called her “Natalie Cuntanetti” because she spoke against his appointment. If he says to a parent in the district, what else will he do?
Siegel: Comments preceded appointment and board allowed it anyway. Apology is a joke. Can our students and teachers feel safe when he is in charge. Dr. Gallagher took a stand at teacher convocation, silence from board is unacceptable. Not a right, a privilege. Character does count and we deserve better. This is not about one comment after his rant tonight there are so many examples. Also too ignorant to serve. Leaves mic with 30 sec.
Longgren: Teacher in district. Community members voted for members that they share value with. For him to resign would be oppressive and controlling. You are all undoing the process of an election.
Audience: “You’re garbage too.” Chair gavels.
Longgren: Are there posts about DJT that would elicit the same response? Why did it need to be addressed at convocation? Not motivating to staff of SASD. I did not feel respected during convocation speech because of the politics and ideology. “I ask, where is the balance?” Tells Formica to stand tall and enhance student experience. “As a woman I was not offended, they had nothing to do with me or women in general…”
Chair gavels time.
Next speaker: Recounts all of the Formica tweets in order. Tweet while he was in office: “Michelle Obama ugliest First Lady for sure” comments about Lizzo, body not made for “white people either.” More and more.
“Some character!” an audience member calls out.
Ends in a Tweet that says “it’s ok to hang politicians.”
Spiegel: An alum of SASD, resident. Speaking on behalf of other students. Also prayed on what to speak about. Not sure why Formica should join school board if dislike teachers. Young speaker, long pauses and awkward cadence but genuine sentiment. Resign to preserve integrity of district, she says. Asked if Formica is listening and teachers told her to listen when people talk and put down your phone. “My teachers told me if I want to get a job and keep it I should be careful about what I post.” 1A and consequences redux.
Proper apologies don’t place blame on the recipient, she says. Addressing Formica; you have a lot to learn from teachers.
#pennsylvania #PublicSchools #billformica #Souderton
Thread continues here https://epistolary.org/@vees/113048303722232280
Unknown: Support 1A. Support consequences.
He cedes his time to a woman next to him who's turn is next then realizes he would lose the time. Reclaims his time. Says he's going off script. Not all about Kamala, about teachers, blacks, Hispanics, minorities, other stuff. References Boebert, MTG, etc. to make headlines on the school board. Just go home, he says to Formica. “This doesn’t work out” and references disrespect of reading his phone earlier. Calls for applause from all who thought it was a terrible apology, receives big applause.
Next speaker Rhode is absent.
Next speaker:
Gallagher: Souderton 16 years. Not public speaker. Says Formica did not apologize to me, teachers, students. Wasting everybody’s time. [Formica folded hands, only one on dais rocking in chair.] Ironic when I signed for computers I had to promise they wouldn’t do what you did on the Internet. Resign.
Farrell: From Telford. Not a usual public speaker. Went to Souderon HS. Graduated joined Army, went to Afghanistan. "Told my platoon: they are all going home" They all came home with one Purple Heart that he received for a mild TBI. Makes him qualified to comment on leadership and the lack thereof, he says.
Standing ovation.
Farrell, cont: “Speak your mind but step out of the leadership job.” Addressing the board: Some of you smirk, some of you don’t give a crap, you’re all complicit. He walks off to applause.
#Souderton #billformica #PublicSchools #pennsylvania #veteran
Littler: School teacher and principals are amazing at his schools. Special place and we’re glad to be here. Sad at situation. Should be talking about how to make things better but distracted. In his house believe in respect and consequences. Apology not sufficient for disrespect or hurt. Only solution for Formica to resign.
Sisler: Doesn't want to be here. Was relieved by conservative victory that would protect children from “sinister plot to reject their God-given identity.” Alarmed that a man is being wrongly pressured to resign. Does this truly warrant his resignation? Many in audience shout "YES."
Chair pauses time.
Sisler continues: If this was the consequence we would have “no leader.” This is childish bullying. Stooping about one mistake. Does character count or is it an “agenda.” Calls it pristine district rooted in hard work, faith, and community care. Many of you have moved to avoid “damaging policies.” Unwilling to accept amoral indoctrination destroying families and communities.
Audience is getting unruly.
Sisler shouts, “I’ll just shout louder, bring it on!” At that moment the Chair calls time.
Bowers: Finally up. Says community will not be placated by their inability to act. Respecting sunshine laws (subverted by Formica appointment) asks Chair if the quotes are acceptable. Mr. Keith will not answer. She says I thought I’d try and audience laughs. Asks rest of board for roll call whether they agree, board declines. From a legal standpoint boards must appear united, but silence is complicity. Show our students what character we have. Ends with “character counts.”
Kidd: Won’t repeat other speakers. Formica turned school district into embarrassment. Teachers will leave, hiring will be hard, families will not move into the area after Google Search. Audience member: “So what?” And “What about the books?” Speaker getting derailed. Kids are watching, she says and leaves the mic.
Chair gavels in.
Chair: "Please just speak," he says. Gives Derstine 20 more second and then move on.
Derstine: Pornographic books, oral and anal sex, sex apps to meet up with adults for sex. That’s what’s in the books that I asked to be removed and same parents calling for Formica resignation. Formica supporters applaud.
Next speaker.
Donnell: 20 years admin in Upper Dublin. Says character counts. Not about politics, about right and wrong. Posting by Formica is a pattern and you can stand up and loudly decry his conduct. Hold kids, teachers, coaches accountable. “This is a no-brainier.” Let the school board move forward.
Chair calls two minute recess to discuss. Probably whether he can adjourn the meeting legally. Woman behind me says Unknown speaker is named Kaitlin Derstine of Soudy Strong Conservatives group. Will research later.
Torres: Telford, 2 kids. Don’t know Formica. Could have chosen to represent himself better on social media. What we know, teachers overpaid, Spanish for illegals, slavery benefitted black Americans (scattered applause, heads turn). He must believe this. Not just about misogyny but the tip of the iceberg. 1A rights do not afford impunity from consequences. Cites school rules. He will not advocate for best teacher contracts, will he accept whitewashed history curriculum. Not a witch hunt, he is ill suited for the position. Wild applause.
Unknown speaker: Formica, you’re not going anywhere. Other speakers just want to hear themselves. Schools board doing an excellent job. Walks off to Formica supporter applause,
Next unknown speaker [later identified as Derstine]: Says she advocated for “pornographic” books to be removed from the library. Multiple boos. Some included racist and…
Chair interrupts to calls out Elise Bowers, asks her to put sign down. From the back someone shouts: “Character counts.”
(Missed speaker name): Highlights the posts Formica made particularly disparaging the teachers to “stay in their lane” which was one printed out front during the rally. Where is your accountability, speaker asks. Loud applause. Disrespectful comments, profound misunderstanding of teaching. Lauds teachers. Heckler yells something at him, he laughs it off. Undermines hard work of educators. Disservice to all. Lambasts apology, as all about Formica.
Chair calls time. Speaker continues.
Simpkins: Complains about reverb on audio. Did a lot of praying and thinking, he says. Kids are watching what not to do, critiques screaming and disorder of anti-Formica groups. He serves God, serves Jesus. (Formica supporters applaud). Why are so many incapable of forgiveness. I’ve been forgiven through blood of Jesus. Heckler from audience interrupts, speaker says “thank you for proving my point.” Emphasizes kids bad influence and literature from Souderton libraries and ideas put into their heads vs what would be posted on Twitter. Jokes that no kids are actually on Twitter. Someone emailed his employer after he was on the news. Calls for a higher standard.
Morina: Quote “We are a people who are not in the papers…gaps between the stories” from Margaret Atwood. Strides confidently away from the mic.
Shelley: Good to see active engagement. Formica was successfully elected. During campaign, anon says Formica every opinionated, hesitate that he should be a school director. Voted for Formica. Grew up and went to school, strong community. Neighbor and him find common ground in love of community. Be sure to vote local every election. (Not sure where this is going). If someone I knew made similar posts I would call on him to resign. If my kids came with an apology would send them to their rooms. If you want any respect you can’t take those statement back. We’ll think about it every time if you think the woman in front of you really deserves it.
Call of “Put your phone down, Bill” from the audience. Standing ovation for the last speaker, almost deafening.
Buckler: Hard act to follow. How did we wind up with a person like this on the board? Tells everyone in the audience to vote locally and make sure “no future Mr. Formicas on this board.” Asks each to stand and tell audience how they feel about him and his words. What are the consequences for a student does same thing? “He’s actually enjoying this.” She says of Formica, suggests psych eval, like would happen to a child. Will he deal with his deep seated hate?
Chair calls time. Reminds sign holder in audience to not hold paper in front of Formica supporters.
Manser: Teacher and mom of two kids in district. Who do teachers serve? What does the school board serve? Integrity, goodness? Just because he didn’t do anything criminal does not mean you can’t call him a distraction and urge him to resign. He does not serve district values. Suggests DEI, digital citizenship training. Many people watching. Demographics are changing, she emphasizes. Fragile precedent, don’t drop it.
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