Carroll ISD students, parents protest board’s decision on district’s diversity plan
Around 50 people gathered at the Carroll school district administration building to protest the school board’s decision on the lack of action to approve a diversity plan for its schools.
Thursday was the third day that students along with parents and former students protested Monday night’s 5-2 vote to receive the Cultural Competence Action Plan and to give administrators the authority to form committees for further study.
The protesters carried signs and chanted “Black lives matter,” “Black students matter,” “No justice, no peace,” and “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Several board members said during Monday’s meeting that the plan was vague and that the community did not have time to read the plan.
Anika Shah, who helped organize the Southlake Anti-Racism Coalition (SARC) and who also organized the protest, said the school board members were “cowards” for not approving the plan.
Shah said she live-streamed the meeting on the SARC website, and saw comments about organizing a protest.
“People were getting really frustrated. There is a lack of confidence in the school board,” she said.
Sheila Halliman, whose two children graduated from Carroll High School, said she recalled how they came home and told her they felt uncomfortable with the racial slurs and rhetoric from other students.
Halliman said she and her husband chose to live in Southlake.
“If you want an equitable society, allow people to compete on their own merits. We have the salary to be in this neighborhood. We’re not asking for a piece of the pie, we already have a piece of the pie,” she said.
Halliman also criticized the school board’s decision and said they were “playing with the hearts” of former, current and future students.
Another student, Nikki Olaleye, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the school board’s decision.
“I thought the testimonies they heard (during Monday night’s meeting) would change their minds, but they gave in under pressure. We need to vote them out,” she said.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 7:00 PM.