Indian River County School Board Unanimously Proclaims October as “Parental Rights and Appreciation Month”
Board member, Jacqueline Rosario, takes the lead in the state to proclaim a parent’s fundamental right to direct their children’s education. Text of proclamation enclosed.
Last week at the June 10 Indian River County school board meeting, the superintendent, Dr. David Moore, began with a presentation of a proclamation declaring October as “Parental Rights and Appreciation Month.”
Introduced by board member, Jackie Rosario, the proclamation received unanimous support as each board member read a specific clause that highlighted the significance of the Parents Bill of Rights passed in 2021. Reached for comment, Ms. Rosario said, “The Parental Rights and Appreciation proclamation celebrates and appreciates a parent/guardian’s fundamental rights to direct the education, well being, emotional and physical health of their children.”
The proclamation was brought to the attention of Ms. Rosario by the State Coordinator of Parental Rights Florida, Patti Sullivan. Since 2012, Mrs. Sullivan has been at the forefront, advocating for Parental Rights legislation. In 2018, she brought a simple 2 paragraph document to her then representative in the Florida House, Erin Grall. Now a Florida senator, Representative Grall wrote the 12 page bill that held up to three years of opposition, amendments and legislative debate, becoming law in 2021. Mrs. Sullivan attended the signing ceremony of the landmark legislation with her family and Rep. Grall in the spring of 2021. Reached for comment, she said, “As citizens here and leaders of Parental Rights Florida, my husband and I began in 2012 working toward enacting the language that parental rights are a fundamental right. Our Representative (now Senator) took this language and even created a new law chapter with the Parents' Bill of Rights when it finally passed in 2021.”
Mrs. Sullivan wanted her home county, where parental rights legislation was birthed, to be the first jurisdiction to proclaim it. “I applaud Jackie Rosario for building on this as an elected local official. She issued this first-of-its-kind historical proclamation designating October as Parental Rights and Appreciation Month, a testament to parents' contributions and rights,” she continued. Ms. Rosario said, “Patti Sullivan was instrumental in this process. Together we agreed this kind of proclamation was long overdue. I can’t thank her enough for persevering to protect parental rights at every turn.”
Beyond the proclamation recognizing the actual Florida Statute 1014 clause mentioned by Ms. Rosario, it also declares, “The Legislature further finds that important information relating to a minor child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposefully, from his or her parent, including information relating to the minor child’s health, well-being, and education, while the minor child is in the custody of the school district…”
Mrs. Sullivan addressed the school board during public comment at the June 10 business meeting. She remarked, “The Parent’s Bill of Rights is not just a piece of legislation. It’s a powerful affirmation of a parent’s crucial role in children’s lives.”
The proclamation also states that a board recognizes that not only does all success in schools begin by embracing the fundamental rights of parents, but also that education must focus on academic subjects, and, “without exception,” should not include any sort of indoctrination, personal biases and political opinions as fact. In short, the district declared that the goal is to get students to learn to the best of their ability and to think for themselves.
Recently, Dr. Moore did a magnet school survey of parents county-wide which showed that the community is standing behind his development of a classical school option in the north county area. The classical education model is the fastest growing nationwide. While used by many Christian schools, it is not inherently religious in any way, shape, or form. Some citizens during public comment made these assertions. Board member, Kevin McDonald addressed those concerns at that same meeting. “I can’t believe the people who are saying it, actually believe what they are saying. But for those of you who don’t know, classical education is 3000 years old and isn’t based on any faith,” he said. In short, it is not an indoctrination model. He added, “The curriculum should be evaluated based on the curriculum.”
October has been the traditional month of Parents Appreciation week at the district. It is a month to celebrate the rights of parents and appreciate the work already being done by many volunteer activities by parents at schools. Board member, Peggy Jones said, “I want to make sure that we appreciate our parents.”
Mrs. Sullivan’s organization, Parental Rights Florida, has a goal of having all 67 counties in Florida proclaim Parental Rights Month, not only at the school boards, but in city councils and county commissions as well. At the Parental Rights Florida website is resource to present proclamations before any of these local governing councils or boards. Mrs. Sullivan said, “I urge all Florida parents and citizens to download these and personally present them to their local officials, urging them to acknowledge October as Parental Rights and Appreciation Month.”
Parental Rights Florida Website
Parental Rights and Appreciation Proclamation Text
FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS PARENTAL RIGHTS MONTH
A proclamation to a-irm the commitment of the __________________ School Board to the fundamental rights of parents/guardians to direct the education of their children and to designate the month of October as Parental Rights Month.
WHEREAS, parents/guardians are in the best position to know their own child’s needs and circumstances, and therefore, should maintain authority over all decisions that could impact the health and well-being of their children; and
WHEREAS, the fundamental right of parents/guardians over the upbringing of their children has been unequivocally established in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the ___________________ Board recognizes Fla. Stat. § 1014.01-.06 entitled the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” which emphatically states in that “[T]he Legislature finds that it is a fundamental right of parents/guardian to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children. The Legislature further finds that important information relating to a minor child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposefully, from his or her parent, including information relating to the minor child’s health, well-being, and education, while the minor child is in the custody of the school district” § 1014.02, and further states in that “[T]he state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of his or her minor child without demonstrating that such action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that such action is narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means” § 1014.03; and
WHEREAS, the ___________________ Board recognizes its duty under Fla. Stat. § 1001.42(8)(c) to “adopt procedures for notifying a student’s parent/guardian if there is a change in the student’s services or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student” in order to “reinforce the fundamental right of parents/guardian to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children” as described in Fla. Stat. § 1001.42(8)(c)(1); and
WHEREAS, the __________________ School Board believes that all academic success begins by embracing these fundamental parental rights in our educational institutions; and
WHEREAS, it is essential that parents’/guardians’ voices are respected and incorporated into the development of academic curricula to ensure that their children are receiving an appropriate education; and
WHEREAS, the ___________________ School Board believes that education must focus on academic subjects, and, without exception, should not include personal bias, personal political opinion, or indoctrination; and
WHEREAS, the ___________________ School Board believes that any parent has the right to see and evaluate all surveys, data collection, and psychological profiling before they are administered to their students/child(ren), and that parents have the right to ‘opt out’ of any or all such testing, survey participation, and/or data collection, and that Fla. Stat. § 1014.01-.06 and Fla. Stat. §1003.42(5) establish numerous rights for parents in this regard;
THEREFORE, be it resolved, that the ___________________ School Board a-irms our commitment to the honor and celebrate the rights of parents to direct the well-being and education of their children; and all employees will uphold the traditional partnership between teachers, students, and parents by directly communicating with and involving parents in the education of their children.
NOW BE IT PROCLAIMED that the School Board of ___________________ designates the month of October as “Parental Rights Month.” Adopted by the District School Board of ___________________, Fl on this ___ day of ___, 2024.
Signed on behalf of the District School Board by:
Chair _______________________________
Vice Chair _______________________________
Board Member _______________________________
Board Member _______________________________
Board Member _______________________________
Superintendent _______________________________
Good news! It seems amazing that this was a unanimous vote in light of the acrimony going on in the country and in the county.
Great direction for IRC.