School board passes Juneteenth resolution
Michele Willer-Allred, Staff Reporter
10:18 am PDT June 19, 2020
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education showed its support for Juneteenth, a date to honor and reflect on the significant role that Blacks have played in the history of the United States.
During its virtual meeting on Thursday, the board voted 6-0, with member Craig Foster absent, to pass a resolution recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth.
Also known as Emancipation Day or Black Independence Day, Juneteenth marks the federal order to free slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865.
However, during discussions that became political at times, school board members said more should be done to mark the day.
Board member Laurie Lieberman said that since schools are not in session and no one can educate children about the day, that Superintendent Ben Drati can address what the resolution is about in his next communication with the community.
Board member Ralph Mechur said the resolution should be framed in the context of work the district is doing for Black Lives Matter.
Board member Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein requested that the board approve a future resolution supporting legislation sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
Tahvildaran-Jesswein said he was “appalled” that President Trump recently took credit in recent comments for making the date popular.
“I don’t know if you were appalled as I was with the president of the United States claiming he’s brought attention to this. I can’t even believe what he has said about this,” Tahvildaran-Jesswein said.
“Because he didn’t know what it was, so he just discovered it and so he believes other people just discovered it,” said Lieberman, agreeing with Tahvildaran-Jesswein.
Board President Jon Kean said those interested in participating in a Juneteenth commemoration can do so at noon on Saturday at Virginia Avenue Park.
Later in the meeting, board member Oscar de la Torre urged staff to look into equity in hiring in the district, and assessing the naming of schools in the district.
He said that the district naming one of its newest buildings after former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama was a step in the right direction, he wanted to know what would be the path to diversify the naming of schools. He also asked the district to look at any features at schools, such as murals or statues, that could be considered “out of line or offensive.”