Rockwood Board of Education member Jessica Clark has been stripped of some duties following a backlash against comments she recently made that some have described as hate speech.
Board of Education members voted Sept. 1 to remove Clark from serving on the district’s wellness committee and from representing the district on the Missouri School Board Association.
That vote was taken during a school board meeting at Marquette High School. Approximately 200 people attended the meeting, and about 30 criticized comments she made during a Real Talk Radio (93.9 FM) event on Aug. 23. The board also heard from six people who supported Clark.
In addition, six of the seven board members criticized Clark her remarks.
“Miss Clark's comments have not only adversely impacted her effectiveness as a Board of Education member. They have undermined the orderly governance of the district, staff morale, and the reputation of the district among its parent and student community,” board president Jaime Bayes said at the Sept. 1 meeting. “The Rockwood Board of Education does not tolerate or condone hurtful and offensive language regarding disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation and the Rockwood Board of Education reaffirms its commitment to creating an environment free of harassment or discrimination.”
Clark reportedly made some of the following comments during the Aug. 23 radio show:
“I use the word ‘libtard.’ They said I was an ableist ... They come in with the kids in the wheelchairs and everything ... Whatever. You are a libtard, and I mean it and I stand on it.”
During the three-hour meeting on Sept. 1, several parents called on Clark to resign from the board.
Clark did not apologize for her comments and said she was elected because some parents feel left out by the district.
“Over the last few days, and even today, we talked a lot about community, all students, and all families,” she said. “Let me remind you that I would not be sitting here if all families and all students felt like they were actually a part of that all.”
Along with relieving Clark of certain duties, board members voted to update its code of ethics policy, strengthening language about how members should conduct themselves when speaking about district matters.
Clark voted with the other six board members to approve the first reading of the proposed changes. A second and third vote for the changes will be taken later before the policy can go into effect, Rockwood spokeswoman Mary LaPak said.
While Clark voted in favor of the proposed changes, she bemoaned how the board handles other complaints.
“We have some members of the community who can air their grievances and express their concerns, and they get agenda items, looking at 7.07 (updating the code of ethics policy), but then we have the other part of that who actually has to wait for state legislation to make something illegal to address their concerns,” Clark said.
Rockwood school officials previously criticized Clark’s comments, describing them in a written statement as “disparaging” and “harmful” to students and families. The officials went on to say that “her views reflect poorly on the district and the more than 4,000 Rockwood employees who are committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.”