Growing opposition to Welcoming Schools

Sources indicate that the growing group of parents opposed to Welcoming Schools are digging in for a couple of reasons including the alleged bullying of a Hale parent by Principal Bob Brancale at a school event in a public park. The parent, who is under threat of arrest if she sets foot on the Hale campus without permission, was told to leave the park as it was a school event. It is the opinion of our sources close to the issue, that the parent is being bullied by Hale officials for her vigorous opposition to Welcoming Schools.

I personally witnessed Principal Brancale verbally abuse a Muslim parent for her faith-based opposition to Welcoming Schools at an informational meeting in March. Allegedly, Brancale is under review by District officials for his remarks. Feel free to comment if you have more recent news.

The recent C&I recommendation has galvanized the group as it approved large portions of WS. One of the chief grievances is the belief that WS is unnecessary because the bullying statistics were compiled after the decision to implement WS was decided. There may be some merit to this as some Hale teachers have shared in confidence that they were pressed for bullying statistics to justify WS after the fact.

MFC has been told that many teachers are opposed to WS but are afraid to speak out for fear of loosing their jobs.

MFC understands that several families are working hard to share the eality of WS with Hale parents. One of the observations that causes parents to question WS is the push towards eliminating terms like boy and girl - or at least fostering the confusion between the two. Minimizing bulling is one thing, encouraging gender confusion amongst elementary children is unacceptable to many.

MFC agrees. Bullying is unacceptable. So is forcing an unnecessary pilot curriculum on elementary children to promote homosexual behavior.

Is Hale Principal Bob Brancale bullying teachers?

More reports from Hale teachers indicate a lack of support for "Welcoming Schools." A Hale teacher voluntarily approached an MFC employee at a large metro church this weekend and echoed comments made by other Hale teachers that many do not support the curriculum and are under a gag order from Principal Bob Brancale. Some have referred to Brancale as intimidating.

This is no surprise as sources indicate that Brancale may be under review for his aggressive behavior at an Information Meeting earlier this year. Brancale allegedly verbally bullied a Muslim mother after she expressed concern with the WS curriculum.

MFC has also been told by teachers to ask Brancale for solid, documented cases of GLBT bullying at Hale. Apparently, they believe the numbers are cooked.

Hale teacher training may qualify for Welcoming Schools

Seems like Principal Brancale is getting ahead of himself. Although "Welcoming Schools" has yet to be approved by Curriculum and Instruction, Hale teachers are being trained to teach anti-bullying curriculum say sources inside Hale Elementary.

Last week, thirteen substitute teachers were paid to fill in for teachers attending a “bullying” training session. Sources say the training was not for "Welcoming Schools" but will “qualify them to teach Welcoming Schools” next Fall.

Brancale has said on several occasions that "Welcoming Schools" won't cost the taxpayer money. Did the substitutes work for free?

Jesse Teben from Out4Good facilitated the training.

Curriculum and Instruction left out of initial decision process

According to sources close to Hale Elementary, the District’s Curriculum and Instruction Department was not originally included in the approval process of “Welcoming Schools” until a complaint was filed by a group of concerned parents.

What is Brancale up to?

Curriculum and Instruction is scheduled to deliver a decision by May 28th. Sources say they have the power to stop "Welcoming Schools."

Please contact C&I department head Dorothy Huffman or Bev Lillquist and ask them halt the pilot of "Welcoming Schools."

Stay tuned.

Are Hale Elementary teachers being bullied into providing bullying incidences?

Sources inside Hale Elementary report that the justification for bringing Welcoming Schools into Hale is suspect. Apparently, the number of incidences of GLBT bullying is lower than reported by Principle Brancale at the Parent Information meeting in February and other occasions. Allegedly the cases he references lack the formal reporting practices of the district. Our sources report teachers feel pressured to supply bullying incidents and are under a gag order to not speak about Welcoming Schools to parents.


Stay tuned.