MARIETTA — The Marietta Board of Education voted 6-1 Thursday morning to uphold Superintendent Grant Rivera’s removal of “Flamer” by Mike Curato from the Marietta High School library.
Board member A.B. Almy, who voted over the phone, cast the lone vote against the motion.
kAm%96 3@2C5’D CF=:?8 42>6 2E 2 3C:67 DA64:2=42==65 >66E:?8 H9:49 3682? 2E ficd 2]>] q@2C5 >6>36C y2:==6?6 wF?E6C >256 E96 >@E:@?[ D64@?565 3J y677 s6y2C?6EE[ E@ FA9@=5 #:G6C2’D 564:D:@?]k^Am
kAm“u=2>6C[” 2 8C2A9:4 ?@G6= 23@FE 2 82J E66?286C 2E DF>>6C 42>A H9@ DECF88=6D H:E9 9:D :56?E:EJ[ H2D C6>@G65 7C@> E96 9:89 D49@@=’D =:3C2CJ 27E6C #:G6C2 566>65 E96 3@@< 4@?E2:?D D6IF2==J 6IA=:4:E 4@?E6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 3@@< H2D C6>@G65 2=@?8D:56 E96 ?@G6= “|6[ t2C=[ 2?5 E96 sJ:?8 v:C=” 3J y6DD6 p?5C6HD 7@C E96 D2>6 C62D@?] %96 E:E=6D H6C6 AF==65 7C@> E96 D49@@=’D =:3C2CJ D9@CE=J 27E6C D:>:=2C C6>@G2=D 😕 E96 r@33 r@F?EJ $49@@= s:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAm$9@CE=J E96C627E6C[ E96 |2C:6EE2 D49@@= 3@2C5 :DDF65 2 5:C64E:G6 E@ #:G6C2 @C56C:?8 9:> E@ C6>@G6 “D6IF2==J 6IA=:4:E >2E6C:2=” 7C@> E96 5:DEC:4E[ H9:=6 2=D@ 4C62E:?8 2 AC@46DD 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 2AA62= 3@@< C6>@G2=D]k^Am
kAm&D:?8 E92E AC@46DD[ |2C:6EE2 A2C6?E z2J=2 $2C86?E 2AA62=65 E@ 86E “u=2>6C” C6:?DE2E65[ 3FE #:G6C2 C6;64E65 E96 C6BF6DE] $2C86?E >256 2 7:?2= 2AA62= E@ E96 D49@@= 3@2C5[ H9:49 H2D C6;64E65 %9FCD52J]k^Am
kAmx? 2 HC:EE6? DE2E6>6?E[ wF?E6C E@=5 E96 |sy[ “E96 3@2C5 D:>A=J G@E65 E@ FA9@=5 $FA6C:?E6?56?E vC2?E #:G6C2’D C6>@G2= @7 2 3@@< 7@F?5 E@ :?4=F56 :?2AAC@AC:2E6[ A@C?@8C2A9:4[ 2?5 D6IF2==J 6IA=:4:E 4@?E6?E 😕 @FC E2IA2J6C 7F?565 <`a AF3=:4 D49@@=D[ 2?5 ;@:?65 r@33[ uF=E@? 2?5 D4@C6D @7 @E96C D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 😕 5@:?8 D@]”k^Am
kAm$2C86?E 92D 2C8F65 E96 3@@< 😀 ?@E A@C?@8C2A9:4 @C :?E6?565 E@ 2C@FD6[ 2?5 92D 65F42E:@?2= G2=F6] $96 92D 2=D@ H2C?65 @7 2 D=:AA6CJ D=@A6[ D2J:?8 >@C6 32?D 4@F=5 36 @? E96 H2J]k^Am
kAmu@==@H:?8 E96 G@E6[ $2C86?E E@=5 E96 |sy D96 H2D ?@E DFCAC:D65]k^Am
kAm“qFE :E D2556?D >6 E92E E96 3@2C5 H@F=5?’E 86?F:?6=J 4@?D:56C E96 2AA62=[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 3@@<’D 2FE9@C[ rFC2E@[ 9:>D6=7 H6:8965 😕 =2DE >@?E9[ A6??:?8 2 =6EE6C E@ |2C:6EE2 w:89 DEF56?ED 2?5 E6==:?8 E96>[ “%96J 42? 32? >J 3@@<[ 3FE ?@ @?6 92D E96 C:89E E@ 32? *~&]”k^Am
k9amq@2C5 >6>36CD H6:89 :?k^9am
kAmq@2C5 r92:C z6CCJ |:?6CG:?: E@=5 E96 |sy D96 G@E65 “E@ DFAA@CE E96 DFA6C:?E6?56?E’D 564:D:@?[ 3642FD6 x 5@?’E E9:?< E92E H6 ?665 D6IF2==J 6IA=:4:E >2E6C:2=D 😕 2 AF3=:4=J 7F?565 z`a =:3C2CJ[ E92E C62==J 5@6D?’E D9@H 2?J 65F42E:@?2= G2=F6]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C wF?E6C’D >@E:@?[ E96C6 H2D ?@ 5:D4FDD:@? 2>@?8 3@2C5 >6>36CD AC:@C E@ G@E:?8]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 5:D4FDD65 E9:D :DDF6 25 ?2FD62>[ H6 C62==J 92G6[” |:?6CG:?: D2:5 27E6C E96 >66E:?8] “tG6CJE9:?8 E92E 92D 366? DF3>:EE65 3J A2C6?ED[ E96 5:C64E:G6[ 2== @7 E96 6>2:=D … 92G6 366? C6G:6H65 2E =6?8E9] xE H2D ?@E :?E6?565 E@ 36 2 9F86 5:D4FDD:@? >66E:?8 E@52J]”k^Am
kAmq@2C5 >6>36C p?86=2 ~C2?86 E@=5 E96 |sy D96 C625 “u=2>6C” EH:46] $96 925 6>A2E9J 7@C p:56?[ :ED AC@E28@?:DE[ 2?5 “D2H A2CED @7 >J =:G65 6IA6C:6?46 😕 9:D]”k^Am
kAmw6C 3:886DE 4@?46C? H:E9 E96 3@@< H2D ?@E E96 AFCA@CE65=J “D6IF2==J 6IA=:4:E” A2CED[ 3FE E96 D64E:@? H96C6 p:56? 4@?D:56CD DF:4:56]k^Am
kAm“(6 <?@H E92E A@DEr~’xs … >2?J @7 @FC DEF56?ED 2C6 6>@E:@?2==J 7C28:=6[” ~C2?86 D2:5] “… u@C 2 49:=5 E@ 86E E92E 3@@< @? E96:C @H? 2?5 7=:A E9C@F89 2?5 C625 :E[ 2?5 ?@E 92G6 2?J EJA6 @7 7@==@HFA @C 42C6[ 27E6C D66:?8 E9@D6 G6CJ 8C2A9:4 DF:4:52= :>286D[ :E’D ;FDE ?@E D@>6E9:?8 E92E x E9:?< x H@F=5 H2?E E@ 36 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 😕 2 z`a D49@@= D6EE:?8]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565 E92E :E’D :>A@CE2?E E92E {vq%” DEF56?ED 766= 277:C>65 😕 |2C:6EE2]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 24EF2==J 23@FE E@ 36 >2<:?8 2 G6CJ =2C86 3@@< AFC492D6 😕 E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D] … p?5 x 36=:6G6 E92E E96 {vq%” 6IA6C:6?46 >FDE 36 DA@<6? E@] x ;FDE E9:?< H:E9 E9@D6 DF:4:52= :>286D … E92E’D ?@E E96 2AAC@AC:2E6 3@@< E@ 5@ :E[ 7@C @FC 5:DEC:4E[” ~C2?86 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq@2C5 >6>36C y2D@? (2E6CD G696>6?E=J 56?:65 E92E E96 AC@E28@?:DE 36:?8 82J 925 2?JE9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 3@@<’D C6>@G2=]k^Am
kAm“%96 DEC@?86DE DE2E6>6?E x H2?E E@ D2J 😀 E@ AFD9 324< @? E96 7@=<D E92E 92G6 D2:5 E96 :DDF6 H:E9 E96 3@@< 😀 E92E E96 492C24E6C 😀 82J[” 96 E@=5 E96 |sy] “%92E 4@F=5 36 ?@E9:?8 7FCE96C 7C@> E96 ECFE9] %9:D 3@2C5 92D ?6G6C D2:5 E92E[ E96 3@2C5 92D ?6G6C 36=:6G65 E92E] … p?5 x E2<6 @776?D6 E@ E92E … $@>6 @7 >J 36DE 7C:6?5D 2C6 82J[ D@>6 @7 >J 72>:=J >6>36CD 2C6 82J]”k^Am
kAm(2E6CD D2:5 E96 A2CED @7 E96 3@@< H9:49 4@?46C?65 9:> H6C6 “E96 D6IF2==J 6IA=:4:E A2CED[ E96 A@C?@8C2A9:4 A2CED[ 2?5 E96 DF:4:52= :562E:@?]”k^Am
kAm“(6 42?’E 9@=5 6G6CJ 3@@< 😕 E96 H@C=5[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D WE96 9:89 D49@@= =:3C2CJX ?@E >62?E E@ 9@=5 6G6CJ 3@@< 😕 E96 H@C=5] x 5@?’E 36=:6G6 E9:D 😀 @?6 @7 E9@D6 3@@<D]”k^Am
kAmp=>J E@=5 E96 |sy D96 G@E65 E@ C6E2:? E96 3@@< 3642FD6 D96 36=:6G6D :E 4@F=5 36 96=A7F= 7@C >2C8:?2=:K65 DEF56?ED] (9:=6 E96 3@@< 92D D@>6 F?4@>7@CE23=6 >@>6?ED[ D96’5 766= 4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 96C @H? 49:=5C6? C625:?8 :E 😕 9:89 D49@@=]k^Am
kAmp=>J 2=D@ D2:5 D96 H2D 4@?46C?65 E92E “u=2>6C” H2D 36:?8 D:?8=65 @FE ?@E 7@C :ED D6IF2= 4@?E6?E[ 3FE 5F6 E@ :ED AC@{vq%” >6DD286]k^Am
k9am!2C6?ED H6:89 :?k^9am
kAm~?6 |2C:6EE2 A2C6?E[ z6C: }:??6DD[ E@=5 E96 |sy E92E[ “2D 2 7@C>6C =:46?D65 D@4:2= H@C<6C H:E9 2 DEC@?8 F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 49:=5 56G6=@A>6?E[ x 252>2?E=J @AA@D6 >2E6C:2= 😕 E2I A2J6C 7F?565 D49@@=D E92E 56A:4E A@C?@8C2A9:4 :>286D]k^Am
kAm“]]] x 7F==J DFAA@CE 3@@<D E92E 56A:4E E96 G2=F6 2?5 H@CE9 @7 DEF56?ED @7 2== D6IF2=:E:6D[ 2D =@?8 2D E9@D6 3@@<D C6>2:? 7C66 @7 A@C?@8C2A9J E92E 92D =@?8 366? <?@H? E@ 92G6 25G6CD6 67764ED 😕 56G6=@A:?8 49:=5C6?[” }:??6DD D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE H9:=6 D6G6C2= @E96C A2C6?ED E92?<65 #:G6C2 7@C C6>@G:?8 E96 3@@< 2E 2 %F6D52J ?:89E 3@2C5 >66E:?8[ E96 4C@H5 %9FCD52J >@C?:?8 2AA62C65 E@ >2:?=J 4@?D:DE @7 E9@D6 H9@ H2?E65 :E C6:?DE2E65]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< :E’D 2 D92>6 7@C E96 |2C:6EE2 r:EJ $49@@= q@2C5 E@ E2<6 >2C49:?8 @C56CD 7C@> @FED:56 8C@FAD =:<6 |@>D 7@C {:36CEJ[” D2:5 %C2G:D }:49@=D] “p?5 E96D6 EJA6D @7 E9:?8D FDF2==J 5@?’E DE@A H:E9 @?6 3@@<[ 2?5 E96J FDF2==J 5@?’E DE@A 2E @?6 D49@@=]”k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E9@D6 A2C6?ED 42==65 E96 “u=2>6C” D282 2 H2<6FA 42== E92E 92D DAFCC65 E96> E@ 36 >@C6 :?G@=G65 😕 D49@@= 3@2C5 A@=:E:4D]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 😀 E96 6G6?E E92E 24EF2==J 96=A65 >6 C62=:K6[ =:<6[ @9[ x ?665 E@ 36 :?G@=G65 😕 E9:D[” D2:5 A2C6?E |2EE96H {6w6H]k^Am
kAm|2C:6EE2 A2C6?E |2CJ y2CC@FD9 😀 2 7C:6?5 2?5 4@==686 D@C@C:EJ D:DE6C @7 z2E:6 #:?56C=6[ E96 r@33 r@F?EJ $49@@= s:DEC:4E E62496C H9@ H2D 7:C65 3J $FA6C:?E6?56?E r9C:D #28D52=6 2?5 E96 r@33 D49@@= 3@2C5 27E6C C625:?8 “|J $925@H 😀 !FCA=6[” 2 3@@< 23@FE “>@G:?8 36J@?5 E96 86?56C 3:?2CJ” E@ 96C 7:7E9 8C256 4=2DD]k^Am
kAmy2CC@FD9 D2:5 E96 7@4FD @? 3@@<D 92D 366? “6>32CC2DD:?8” 7@C 2 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E H:E9 >F49 E@ 36 AC@F5 @7]k^Am
kAm“$66>:?8=J @G6C?:89E[ 2== @7 2 DF556?[ H6 925 E96 3@@< 32? 9625=:?6D] p?5 E92E ?682E:G:EJ @G6CD925@HD 2== E96 8@@5 H@C< H6 5:5[” y2CC@FD9 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$2C86?E 96CD6=7 3=2>6D E96 3@2C5[ ?@E E96 DFA6C:?E6?56?E[ 7@C E96 C6>@G2=]k^Am
kAm“%96 3@2C5 4@?EC@=D vC2?E’D ;@3[ E96J ;FDE G@E65 @? 9:D C6:?DE2E6>6?E[” D96 D2:5[ C676C6?4:?8 #:G6C2’D C646?E 4@?EC24E 6IE6?D:@?] “$@ E@ A=246 E9:D @? vC2?E H@F=5 36 :?2AAC@AC:2E6[ C:89En q642FD6 D@>6@?6 6>A=@JD 9:>[ 2?5 E96J’C6 E6==:?8 9:>i ‘s@?’E C6:?DE2E6 E9:D 3@@<]’”k^Am
kAm$2C86?E 7:C>=J 36=:6G6D D96 😀 A2CE @7 E96 “>@56C2E6 >2;@C:EJ” 😕 |2C:6EE2[ H9:49 ?665D E@ AC6DDFC6 E96 3@2C5 2?5 4@F?E6C24E “7C:?86[ C:89EH:?8 A2C6?ED]”k^Am
kAm“x 5@ F?56CDE2?5 E96J’C6 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D[ :E’D 6>32CC2DD:?8[ E9:D H9@=6 E9:?8[” $2C86?E D2:5] “%96J ;FDE H2?E :E E@ 8@ 2H2J] qFE F?7@CEF?2E6=J 7@C E96>[ A6@A=6 😕 |2C:6EE2 5@?’E H2?E 3@@< 32??6CD @? E96:C 3@2C5]”k^Am