Camas parents defend school board, district’s anti-racism work

In the weeks following a heated May 10 Camas School Board meeting featuring a group of vocal Camas-area residents who railed against the school district’s “woke” agenda, COVID-19 mask mandates, remote learning and racial justice and equity programs, dozens of Camas parents have written letters and spoken out in defense of the school district and its elected school board officials.

“Please keep in mind that these people are a vocal minority and do not represent the views of the majority of the Camas community. Our family moved here seven years ago specifically for the Camas schools and we wholeheartedly support the board members, the CSD administrators and the teachers, who are all doing a wonderful job,” Camas parent Ken O’Day wrote in a May 24 letter to the school board. “What we are witnessing happening here in Camas is part of a larger effort organized on social media to wage an extremist culture war against school boards across the country … I strongly encourage you not to be bullied by these people, and I pledge to support each and every one of you for reelection. It is imperative that we do not let these people intimidate their way into vacating a board seat so they can attempt to hijack our school board and undo all the wonderful progress that has been made by the board and administrators to make (the district) what it is today.”