BY KARISSA MILLER

A community member scolded the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education Monday night for the board’s decision to derail an effort to display a poster featuring the Ten Commandments and other historical documents in all area schools.

His comments did not sit well with at least one board member.

Speaker Jan Wright began her comments to the board by saying, “North Carolina’s public school charter says we can display the Ten Commandments in our public schools.” He later said he appreciated the integrity of board members Mike Kubiniec, Anita Kurn and Brian Sloan, who stood up for their values ​​and voted in favor of the Ten Commandments poster.

He then went on to lecture the remaining four board members, whom he described as those who voted against the Ten Commandments.

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said. “We can’t believe you. We can’t trust you.”

“You are easily convinced by sounds coming from outside. When and why else would you suddenly change your mind?” he asked.

According to Wright, Bibles and prayers were removed from public schools in 1962. Wright said removing God from schools would lead to “an increase in bad behavior, underachievement, sexual deviance, drug abuse, depression, suicide and economic depression.”

He ended his speech by giving a warning to the board members.

“We need God and His Ten Commandments to be restored to our schools,” Wright said.

Vice president angered by accusations

Chairman Bill Howell gave Vice Chairman Charles Kelly, who is not seeking re-election in 2024, a chance to reflect and share his thoughts on his 20 years of service as a school board member.

Kelly chose to use this time to respond to Wright’s comments.

“As a lay leader in a Methodist Church speaking on this issue, I was absolutely thrilled to be included in a category that rejected the Ten Commandments,” he said passionately.

“I am angry about this to the point of absolute rage,” Kelly added.

Sloan, who led the effort to display the Ten Commandments in I-SS schools, tried to prevent Kelly from having a say.

“This is board members’ comments,” Sloan said, interrupting Kelly. “Order point.”

Chairman Howell had previously abandoned the practice of allowing board members to comment on topics of their choosing during board meetings because board members were using the time to promote their personal agendas.

In response to Sloan’s comments, Kelly stood his ground.

“That’s right! That’s right – and this is the last time. I’ve spent 20 years doing this, and this will be the last time I’ll be here,” he said.

The vice president explained that he tries to live by the Ten Commandments. He said his opposition to displaying the orders in area schools was not for religious reasons but rather a move to avoid costly litigation.

Although the Ten Commandments are allowed to be displayed on school property under North Carolina law, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against this practice.

Having to pay lawyers to defend a lawsuit on the issue would divert funds away from local children’s education, he said.

Kelly also accused Wright of spreading misinformation about the Ten Commandments poster. The vote on whether to display the poster never took place because not even a second was taken up on a motion on the subject.

A motion later to postpone the vote until November failed because it did not receive enough votes.

As Kelly tried to talk about the issue, Kubiniec and Sloan continued to interrupt her.

Annoyed, Kelly jokingly said she would throw her water bottle at Kubiniec if he didn’t stop interrupting her. Kubiniec quit due to cuts. But Sloan continued to do so.

“We broke into the Top 10 halfway through the series. If we’re not No. 1, we’re in the Top 10. We have the best acuity in the state. We have the best administration in the country. We reached this point step by step. Let’s not tear it down,” Kelly said.

Kelly said over the past two years, following the election of Kubiniec, Sloan and Kurn in November 2022, the board has spent too much time bickering and lost focus on students. (Kubiniec was publicly reprimanded by the board and accused of stalking another board member. Meanwhile, Sloan came forward claiming he could take over as principal at Statesville High School, and Kurn joked about creating Statesville High School in a text message to other board members.) students fight in the Thunderdome for fun.)

“We are here for 21,000 children. That’s why we’re here,” Kelly said.

He concluded his words by saying that it was an honor to serve on the board of directors.

Immediately after his comments, Sloan asked Howell: “Am I getting board members’ comments?”

“No, you don’t,” the president responded. “When you’re 20 years old, I’d be happy to do it.”

Public Schools and Religion

Academic courses on the Bible and other religious texts are permitted in I-SS schools.

Additionally, faith-based partnerships have been a part of I-SS for decades. However, no child is forced to belong to a class or a religious club.

The I-SS Bible Society covers the cost of Bible classes at five high schools in Iredell County. Money is collected privately to pay teachers’ salaries. The non-profit organization has been in existence since 1994.

In 2009, the I-SS Board voted in favor of a motion to authorize the establishment of the Good News Club in elementary schools in the district. Kelly was one of the board members who approved the motion.