The Board of Directors of the Nebraska School Boards Association voted on Saturday to officially cut ties with a national organization that sparked controversy last year by calling for a federal investigation into threats made against board members. school.
The move comes less than a month after the Nebraska association’s executive committee voted to recommend the cancellation of its membership in the National School Boards Association, a federation of state associations that advocates and lobbies public education issues.
Saturday’s decision adds Nebraska to a growing list of state school board associations that have distanced themselves from or cut ties with the NSBA altogether. In a text message, Nebraska Association President Brad Wilkins confirmed that they will not be paying NSBA dues this year. The money should have been paid before June 30.
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Last September, NSBA officials sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking for help from the federal government to protect educators and board members from threats and harassment. School board meetings across the country grew increasingly heated as debates over masking, sex education and critical race theory compelled parents to testify in normally quiet meetings.
The letter called for “joint collaboration” between state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and prevent threats against board members. The NSBA requested assistance from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service.
“As these acts of malice, violence and threats against public school officials have increased, classification of these heinous actions could amount to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes,” it read. in a particularly controversial section of the six-page letter. .
The letter was signed by Viola Garcia, the group’s president at the time, and Chip Slaven, then executive director and interim CEO.
In October, Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to the NSBA and, in a memorandum, ordered the FBI and U.S. attorneys to meet and investigate what he called a “worrying spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence” targeting school personnel.
Garland’s original letter and memorandum were heavily criticized by the public and by NSBA members who said they were not consulted on the contents of the letter. In response, at least 23 other public school board associations officially severed ties with the national organization. A handful of other state councils issued statements denouncing the message of the letter and the call for federal action.
Nebraska politicians also reacted negatively to the letter. U.S. Senator Ben Sasse called Garland’s memo a “work of political hacking” in a statement, and Gov. Pete Ricketts said federal intervention would be an “absolute outrageous abuse of federal power” intended to “intimidate parents not to attend school board meetings”. .”
The NSBA publicly apologized for the letter shortly after it was shared. Slaven no longer holds the interim leadership position and an independent investigation commissioned by the NSBA found that he was the lead author and did not seek comment from the National Board of Directors or members of organization before sending it.
The number of member associations of the NSBA has been cut in half over the past year, raising questions about its viability as a national organization. Axios reported last year that the 17 affiliates who severed ties by December 2021 accounted for more than $1.1 million in dues. The report also indicates that some states such as Montana and Florida are considering the creation of a new national group to compete with the NSBA.
Correction: This story incorrectly stated that Saturday’s vote by the Nebraska School Boards Association Board of Directors was unanimous.
Our best Omaha staff photos and videos from June 2022
A deer watches a fallen tree on Terry Avenue near Sherry Drive in Bellevue, Nebraska on Wednesday. A storm hit overnight, bringing strong winds.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Rick Trapani cleans out a storm sewer after a car got stuck in floodwaters near 40th and Valley Street in Omaha on Tuesday. Rain and hail from a storm bombarded the area.
Chris Machian The Herald of the World

A sea lion swims under debris from trees that washed ashore Tuesday in the Owen Sea Lion Shores exhibit at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha. A hailstorm the night before shredded the leaves of many plants in parts of Omaha, Nebraska, leaving piles of plant debris. “I’m sure some of the animals were surprised by the storm, like the rest of us, but they don’t care about the debris and the ‘mess’ as much as we humans do. For many animals, the leaves and twigs, as pictured with sea lions, are considered enrichment and new things to explore,” said Dennis Schnurbusch, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium d ‘Omaha.
Chris Machian The Herald of the World

Jerry Swiercek uses a leaf blower to clear hail and leaves torn from trees following a hailstorm outside the home he shares with his wife, Annette, on 44th Ave and St. F at Omaha on Tuesday night.
ANNA REED/THE HERALD OF THE WORLD
Haydn Nichols, 9, rides the musical chairs ride during Taste of Omaha at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Friday.
LILY SMITH THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Andrea Vanderheyden, the artist behind this community art project, ties a ribbon to help create a pride flag on the corner of the Ashton Building on Tuesday to kick off Pride Month.
MEGAN NIELSEN, WORLD HERALD

A man sprays on the roof of a nearby building while filming the scene of a three-alarm fire at Nox-Crete, Inc., 1415 S. 20th St Monday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Flames leap from the scene of a three-alarm fire at Nox-Crete, Inc., 1415 S. 20th St Monday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Lighting can be seen backstage at a three-alarm fire at Nox-Crete, Inc., 1415 S. 20th St Monday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Drone photography after a three-alarm fire at the Nox-Crete chemical warehouse in Omaha on Tuesday.
ANNA REED/THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

Ben Crawford, a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Law Assistant at the Winnebago Tribal Historic Preservation Office, watches as dogs search the cemetery site.
ANNA REED, THE HERALD OF THE WORLD