KC school leader told to resign amid conflict over rainbow drawings, ‘blue eyes’ remark
Leavenworth school board member Vanessa Reid and Kansas Republican state Rep. Pat Proctor visited a school library where students had drawn pictures on the theme of who is welcome there.
In his most recent newsletter, Proctor shared a photo of a fourth grader’s drawing of a rainbow flag, part of a display in the David Brewer Elementary School library.
“It was clear that the school library was doing more indoctrinating than educating,” Proctor wrote.
“I am proud to stand with Conservative School Board Member Vanessa Reid in her fight to protect our kids’ from the radical woke agenda that threatens Leavenworth Schools.”
The comment upset some parents and staff members, whose emotions were on full display at Monday’s school board meeting, where they, and a fellow school board member, called for Reid to resign. And they are angry at Proctor, saying he used a child’s artwork without consent to advance his political agenda.
Reid’s opponents are also criticizing her over her recent comment — a joke, she said — that the best attribute in a new superintendent would be “blue eyes.”
“The immature behavior of a certain board member is unprofessional to say the least and quite frankly, I’m embarrassed she represents us. Being a board member is supposed to be a (nonpartisan) position,” Courtney Ricard, the school’s PTO president and mother of the student who drew the rainbow flag, told the board. She demanded Reid’s resignation, “as it is her job to protect our children.”
Reid did not attend Monday’s board meeting in person, but participated over Zoom. She has not publicly commented on either incident and did not return The Star’s requests for comment this week.
Reid, elected in 2021 along with several other conservative newcomers across the metro area, has been criticized by opponents who argue she has helped hot-topic national politics seep into the school board.
“It’s really sad. Our board has never been involved in anything like this where we have politics involved. It’s not how it’s supposed to be. And all this now is just a political vote,” said longtime board member Mike Carney.
Proctor defended Reid, saying in an email, “Vanessa is committed to putting kids and parents ahead of administrators and the Teachers’ Union. She isn’t afraid to ask tough questions and demand answers.”
He also stood behind his decision to share the student’s drawing, and said: “I find it impossible to believe that all of these kids, spontaneously, drew the same thing. It was clear that they were either instructed or encouraged to do so by the librarian. I don’t think this is an appropriate subject to be discussing with eight and nine year-olds.
“And I know most of my constituents feel the same way I do. I felt I had a duty to share what I had found with them, so that they would know what their kids were being exposed to in our schools.”
A few other drawings featured rainbows or support for the LGBTQ community, while others included flags from other countries, pictures of families and friends, stick figures and animals, according to photos shared with The Star.
“I think she betrayed the students of Leavenworth by allowing this to happen,” Ricard told The Star. “My daughter has the kindest heart. She is the sweetest child and wants everyone to feel loved and included. That was her message. She was trying to spread love. He is spreading hate.”
‘Attacking our schools’
Brandi Bond, library aide at the elementary school, also spoke out on Monday, arguing Reid should step down if she cannot uphold her oath to “protect students and staff.”
“This local politician is attacking our schools. What’s even more disappointing is one of our very own board members is joining this attack, someone who took an oath. They’re trying to tear down what we’ve worked so hard to create, a safe, inclusive space for all of our students,” Bond said. “These individuals coming into our buildings pose a risk to our students. As a parent of a high school student, I am nervous that they could target my son next because his work may not align with their agenda.”
Carney felt Proctor and Reid went to the school “to do something. Their goal was to go out and see what was hanging on the walls, take pictures and make a big deal about it.”
He accuses Reid of bringing partisan politics to the board, as the district has faced several challenges to library materials and debates over curriculum on race.
“The book banning thing started a few months ago. Vanessa wanted a book banned that’s not even in the library,” Carney said. “If you’re in high school, you need to be a critical thinker. They’re trying to say this goes clear down to the elementary level, that we’re teaching critical race theory and all that crap. Which we’re not. That we’re indoctrinating kids. Which we’re not. It’s just irritating.”
Also during Monday’s meeting, one agenda item was dedicated to “correcting misinformation,” where board president Judi Price addressed another claim made in Proctor’s newsletter.
Proctor wrote that Reid’s “pressure, asking tough questions and demanding honest answers, finally forced the exit of failing Leavenworth superintendent Mike Roth.”
Price said Roth announced his plans to retire from the district effective January 2024.
“However, his announcement was for a long-planned retirement and is not in reaction to anything else. Dr. Roth is well-regarded by a majority of the board and was offered an extended contract.”
She said Roth will continue to serve through December, to help with the transition of the new superintendent, who will join the district in July. “Neither of those actions indicate the board is actively trying to dismiss or force his exit. Quite the contrary.”
On Monday, the school board voted 5-2 to appoint Kellen Adams, the superintendent in Chanute, Kansas, as the district’s next leader. Reid and board member Alisa Murphy voted no.
‘Blue eyes’
Reid also came under fire by some parents last month, when the school board held a special meeting to discuss hiring a new superintendent. Board members spent roughly two hours debating qualities they would like to see in a leader.
Toward the end of the meeting, when asked what quality board members would prioritize in a superintendent, Reid responded, “blue eyes.” The answer got a laugh, and Reid said, “I’m just kidding. … Trying to break it up a little bit, you know.”
While Reid clearly stated she was joking, some argued the remark was inappropriate.
“It may have been a joke. You may have been trying to be funny, but I don’t think that’s the time or place to be making that joke,” said Leavenworth father Harry Schwarz, a Democrat who lost his contest against Proctor for the House seat last year by 144 votes. “At first, I took it as what does someone’s physical characteristics have to do with the job they’re doing? And then I had someone point out to me, why blue eyes? I’m not accusing anyone of being racist, but it was inappropriate and it sits uneasy with me.”
Ricard felt the joke was racist.
Toward the end of Monday’s meeting, school board member Dannielle Wells joined with others encouraging Reid to step down.
“I’m very disappointed that not all of us were here tonight and not all of us participated in a manner that seemed open to the public,” Wells said. “I hope that if anybody is not wanting to continue in the public, to have questions asked of them and to address our patrons, that they step down from the board. I understand there are illnesses, but an illness every couple months doesn’t seem acceptable.”
Reid remained silent during the discussion.
But Proctor argued that Wells “has absolutely no room to be passing judgment on the fitness of other School Board members to serve,” alleging she, “rubber stamps every politically charged curriculum the administration brings to her to vote on.”
Parents and elected officials on both sides say they are fed up with partisan politics seeping into their schools, although what that looks like depends on whom you ask.
“We need to be getting our kids workforce and college ready. This radical gender ideology that is being taught to our kids — apparently starting as young as eight or nine years old — is politically charged and has no place in our schools,” Proctor said.
Other Leavenworth school board members either declined or did not return The Star’s request for an interview.
The tension in Leavenworth mirrors similar debates across the Kansas City metro, as school districts face efforts to ban curriculum on race as well as many library books — most of them featuring LGBTQ or diverse characters — that conservative parents argue include content that is overly sexual or inappropriate for students.
Lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri are debating a flood of legislation that could curb the rights of the LGBTQ community. The Kansas Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would ban transgender athletes from girls sports, sending the legislation to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk. On Wednesday in Missouri, the GOP-controlled Senate delayed a vote on a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors, after Democrats spent more than five hours filibustering.
This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
