Frustrations have increase at Bloomington-Normal school board meetings. A District 87 school board member Fitzgerald Samedy told Cities he believed a Town Hall meeting would be a good idea.
One community member was so frustrated that some language was used at a District 87 board meeting. In response the Superintendent and board sent a letter explaining to this community member he would not be allowed back onto D87 property because his verbal and body language threatened the board.
“The letter to Shane McCurdy was sent to the Bloomington Police Department,” said D87 school board president Mark Wylie. “The school board is taking the approach of meeting with different groups individually such as PTO, Booster Club, NAACP, etc instead of a Town Hall meeting. Also our members interact with the general public outside of school board meetings.”
McCurdy has since decided to continue with scheduling a hearing. He tells Cities he plans on calling witnesses including Brian Evans, the Director of Safety and Security at District 87.
“They lied and said the Director of Safety and Security got between me and the school board,” said McCurdy. “As they were exiting the auditorium…that’s just not true. Everyone that was in the auditorium who saw the incident can vouch for that. I’m sure the police that were standing up in the doorway saw everything. I didn’t make any advancements towards the tables or come close to the board members. I wanted to say what I had to say and let my frustrations out.”
McCurdy said he is worried about the FBI snatching him up and taking him in.
The Department of Justice is launching an effort to combat what it said is an “increase” in “threats of violence” against school officials and teachers across the country.
“Posibly pinning charges against me,” said McCurdy.
McCurdy said he felt frustrated at the board because he saw a parent approach the board and was unable to speak. D87 said that this parent was not signed up and the parent said she had but not correctly and awaited the correct sign up sheet that never came as promised by officers at that board meeting, parent Katie Glenn claims.
“I’m looking at the school board members wearing their a masks and they’re emotionless. I see they are waiting for the last speaker and are ready to race out of there. They already made their minds up, and they don’t care about what we have to say,” said McCurdy.
McCurdy told Cities he was approached by an officer at the meeting and asked if Glenn had finished telling the parents in attendance her story after the board had already exited. McCurdy had said he told the officer, ‘I think so.’
“A warning letter would have been nice,” said McCurdy. “To let me know, ‘Mr. McCurdy you used profanity and that upset audience and board members. This will not be tolerated in school, and this is your first and final warning.’ I thought I would be wasting my time [with a hearing] and I pretty much accepted my sentence of not being able to step foot on D87 property.”
McCurdy told Cities he felt bad for the parent who was muted when approaching the school board podium microphone. Parents who attended urged Glenn to give them her statement. McCurdy said no officers or board members rushed them out or approached them.
“Our ears were open listening to her,” said McCurdy. “The police, I believe Brian Evans, came down and approached me very nicely and asked me if she was done. Then I told them [the huddled parents listening to Glenn] that Evans wanted us to wrap it up so they could close up. He was very nice. He didn’t give me any indication that I was a threat.”
The Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington told Cities, in regards to the “violence” nationwide, if the FBI can bring forward data and trends that they have witness and share some of their best practices then the Bloomington Police would be receptive of that.
“I am certainly confident that we can collaborate with the school districts to prevent issues,” said Simington.
