(3-19-19) Celina City Schools Board Of Education President Carl Huber responds to the public and media on the ‘Battlefield Cross Suspension’ situation –
To the Public,
First, I would like to say thank you, to all our veterans who have served, are serving, suffered and even died for our Country. Without their commitment and sacrifices we would not have this great Country with all of its freedoms and opportunities.
Last night at the School Board meeting a U.S. Veteran asked to speak about a topic regarding a student. Prior to coming to the stage to speak, she was informed that, “the Board would not allow the discussion of any student, students family or discipline of any student.” This is to protect the right to privacy of student of the Celina City Schools.
The speaker was recognized and indicated that she was “here tonight to speak up for a young man who was disciplined…” At that time, I again informed her “The board is not allowed to publicly discuss this matter, please leave the stage.” The speaker was never asked to leave the meeting.
The Celina City School Board has requested a “FERPA Release Form” be signed through the family’s attorney to allow us to make a truthful and accurate statement about the situation. Until the school has received that release, the Board and its agents will not be making any statement that violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or a student’s general right to privacy.
Thank You,
Carl Huber
Celina City Schools
Board President
Mercer County Outlook 
What a Crock….the BoE knows they have stepped in it, and now are trying to worm their way out….It will NOT be that easy….
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Sounds to me like we have nothing more than a bunch of gutless BOE members that should themselves be suspended or fired for their irrational and irresponsible handling of this students project. A project, which as it appears to me, WAS DISCUSSED WITH AND APPROVED BY HIS TEACHER. Shouldn’t this teacher be suspended then as well ?
I am a veteran of the Vietnam war and as such embarrased that our school would act in this manner.
Symbols such as this project by this suspended student should be applauded. He should definitely have not been suspended for honoring our fallen soldiers !
It is obvious that this BOE has no common sense when they think a nurf dart is a weapon.
I am offended as a veteran and saddened as a citizen that our country and especially our school has come down to this.
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I likem to tell somebody my story of what happen to me in school but won’t let me pos it
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Right on…bet first paragraph was copied and pasted
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The schools are owned by the tax paying citizens of Celina. The board is elected by the taxpayers. The administration is paid by the taxpayers. ALL OF THEM are accountable to the taxpayers!
The policy whereby a taxpayer has to ‘register’ prior to speaking to the board is just plain wrong and needs to be changed. The first 30 minutes of a board meeting should be open forum where the taxpayers are free to speak about anything they desire and it should be part of the record too.
Board Members and Administrators are free to choose not to respond, but the point is for them to hear from the taxpaying public in a proper public forum, not through social media posts where people can hide behind their computer screens. If you have something to say, have the nerve to say it directly to their faces!
I hope the family signs the release so we can hear the other side of the story. CCS Board is hiding behind their ‘policy’ so they don’t have to face the taxpayers on the record. This needs to stop
Transparency folks! Democracy only works through transparency! Anything less and we are on the road to Socialism.
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Absolutely! Because it is ALL politics, they seem to have forgotten who runs the show! Not one of them would be there if not for the tax payers that voted them in! And they CAN be removed! I wouldn’t have discussed the boy at all, but would have turned it on them as to how they handled it! I believe there needs to be a BIG change in the district soon!
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Trying to fix stupid isn’t as easy as the board thinks
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Although I don’t live in Celina, I find this whole thing blown out of proportion. It’s a plastic nerf gun for goodness sake! Bring back common sense. As a veteran of 20 years I support the young man in his project. Bravo Zulu to him.
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What a load of crap! All of this information, such as who, where and what discipline was given was in the media the day it happened! The board just didn’t want to face anyone or anything that was thrown at them face to face. Cowards. Put your big boy/girl panties on and admit that you’re in the wrong!
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I was graduate of 1984 when I was approached by my teacher to report to office at that time I drug two tables and twenty four chairs and threw agianst office wall I was told it was my. Fault cause I provoked him when I didn’t do nothing but next day when came meeting next day teacher didn’t show cause of my parents was there but for while I had to where neck brace and had black and blue ribs for while
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I was graduate of 1984 when teacher took me across two table and twenty four chairs but teaxher wasn’t suspend I was told I provoked him had to where neck brace and bruised ribs
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It appears that this Board of Education has crossed the line from what is legal and what is illegal. Whether this board is aware or not when they have a portion of their meeting in public opened to public comment that portion of the meeting becomes a public meeting and they have no right to restrain anyone from exercising their first amendment rights. They cannot established parameters such as they have stated in order to silence a Community member. Doing so subjects the school and its Board of Education as well as possibly the superintendent to a significant lawsuit. This has already been adjudicated in the southern district federal court of Ohio. The case was several years ago and involved Lincoln Heights School. They’re board attempted to silence an individual subsequently took them to task in federal court. I cannot at this time remember the individuals name although I met this person add a meeting a couple of years ago as well as the attorney who represented this person. The attorney’s name, as I recall, is Christopher Finey. That last name may not be spelled correctly but you can contact me in St Mary’s and I will be happy to supply you with information should you so desire. This kind of abuse of students and parents rights needs to be stopped! The responses from the school at this point are completely absurd and furthers, in my opinion, the case of the student who was suspended.
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And the bullshit continues now your stopping someone that fought for our country to speak I call total bullshit what happened to freedom of speech in this
great country? 🇺🇸 And I’m not even from Celina but stand up for that young boy and the Celina citizens and also the great service men and women that support that courages young men.💪🇺🇸
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I likem to tell somebody my story of what happen to me in school but won’t let me pos it
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Thanks, shhhh we aren’t talking about you.
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I am wondering since the teacher approved the project why has he not been suspended as well…..the old saying what’s good for the goose is good for the gander!!
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Celina city school board needs to be fired principal needs fired you all have disrespected the veterans and our military by suspending this student over this projectif it wasn’t for those fallen soldiers and our military u wouldnt have anything
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I think we as Veterans and Citizens need to take a stand. While I don’t live in Celina, I don’t doubt this same scenario would play out the same way in most school districts and the boards would react the same. I would like to see change and I think we can make change. We need to make our voices heard and take a stand for what we believe to be right. I would like to support the efforts the Veterans and Citizens of Celina to see changes made. I feel we need to do this, so we can carry those changes to other communities. I am willing to help, I just don’t know what is being done and how I can help.
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