North Texas school district says student’s Trump-themed parking space can stay
A Keller High School student’s parking-lot mural of former President Donald Trump can stay, school district officials said, reversing course on an earlier order that required the student to cover the mural and sparked backlash from parents.
School officials had previously said the student’s parking space had the potential to cause unnecessary distractions to the learning environment, though its guidelines for painted spaces do not mention an explicit ban on political expressions.
Charles Randklev, the school board’s president, responded to the initial move on social media.
“There is nothing offensive or controversial about respectfully painting or honoring a current or former President for the United States of America,” Randklev wrote on his official Facebook page. “We will take action and make it clear that the students can honor President Trump as the 45th, and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States, as they wish.”
Randklev’s statement drew ire, with one person pointing out that school board positions are intended to be non-partisan.
At least one other student was also asked to paint over their Trump-themed space.
A district spokesperson did not clarify whether students who painted other political messaging would be asked to cover their spots nor did the spokesperson elaborate on what caused the district to shift its policy.
