News
WY Superintendent Of Public Instruction Says State Will Not Comply With USDA Non-Discrimination Policies
Published
2 years agoon
By
News Release
From Brian Schroeder, WY Superintendent of Public Instruction:
“On May 5, 2022, President Biden’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that all state and local agencies funded by its sub-agency, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), ‘must’ update its non-discrimination policies to include new provisions for ‘gender identity and sexual orientation,’ or risk the loss of millions in federal lunch dollars.
“The USDA is acting pursuant to an Executive Order signed on January 20, 2021, directing federal agencies to promulgate or revise rules enforcing the Administration’s new ‘Anti-Discrimination’ mandates. This matters because the Wyoming Department of Education would fall under the mandate’s affected category, as it receives about $40 million per fiscal year from FNS.
“As Superintendent of Public Instruction responsible for setting Department policy, I immediately opposed this action in the strongest terms possible on legal, political and moral grounds. The Biden Administration gets it wrong again because this action is illegal, which is why 26 State Attorneys General are linking arms and demanding a retraction. Undoubtedly, the USDA will face a flurry of lawsuits once rules made pursuant to the Executive Order are promulgated.
“This move not only represents the latest example of federal overreach, but one more blatant violation of state sovereignty. Our Wyoming Constitution (Article 1, Sections 2 & 3) already prohibits discriminating against any human being, for any reason. We don’t need the Nanny State holding our hands and telling us how to interpret or apply our laws.
“After consulting with other state education superintendents around the country, numerous Wyoming legislators and governing officials, as well as the AG’s office and other legal authorities, the short of it is this: we will not comply. Vulnerable children will not go unfed in Wyoming, and we will not allow boys in girls’ locker rooms. We categorically reject gender ideology and will not bow to the coercive will of a bully government.
“Treasurer Curt Meier and a host of Wyoming’s state leaders have assured me that Wyoming has the money to cover these lunches. We can cut ties with these federal lunch dollars and still provide for Wyoming kids – it only requires two things: the will of the Wyoming people, and the determination of Wyoming’s governing leaders. If we don’t fight this, we enable it.
“Therefore, I call on all Wyomingites to appeal to their local legislators concerning the liberating prospects of severing our dependence on federal dollars. Washington has shown its hand, and will never stop at forcing its woke agenda and ever-changing value system on people who refuse to embrace it. Be fully assured, this is not the end – they will be back (i.e. boys in girls sports, forced usage of pronouns, etc.)
“The Wyoming Legislature is constitutionally obligated to fund our public schools, and I will support (and encourage) all efforts to begin the process of cutting ties with federal funds while upholding the constitutional mandate to financially sustain Wyoming public education.
“Such action, of course, would have to be a phased endeavor, but it is completely doable, and I am fully committed to working with our governing body on how to proceed in a prudent manner.
“This statement is not to be interpreted as a call for a special session of the Wyoming Legislature, but at some point, we need to move on this or we will forever be under the feds’ thumb, beholden to a controlling political mindset that wants to own every aspect of our lives, including our belief system. This is a defining moment for the identity and future of Wyoming and its schools. We must break free if we are to be free.”
Rebecca Burdick
June 23, 2022 at 7:39 am
Thumbs up to Brian and Wyoming
Pepper Ottman
June 23, 2022 at 8:06 am
Superintendent Schroeder,
Thank you for giving local control by our parents and school districts a voice of reason. The food programs have suffered for quite while under federal government control. The quality of food varies and even the control of how we serve students is often dictated. Our local superintendents, local school boards, and our precious student’s parents all have the right, responsibility, and know how to feed our students the BEST way.
Scott Thomas
June 23, 2022 at 8:22 am
Finally! A leader who supports state rights, individual rights, and common sense, as well as have the courage to publicly stand by his beliefs and go toe-to-toe against the encroaching federal government domination.
Thomas Jones
June 23, 2022 at 8:43 am
Thank you sir! Extorting school districts to implement the sexualization of children, or low income kids go hungry, is a whole new level of evil brought to us by the biden administration. Sad to see what our once great country has become.
edward capp
June 23, 2022 at 10:30 am
That is EXTORTION! I would love to hear a rebuttal from a Biden voter…
Jerry rakoczy
June 23, 2022 at 11:58 am
My children were born and raised here. They now have kids of their own, here in Wyoming. Thank you for standing strong against the EXTORTION tactics of this evil federal administration. I would/will personally provide a daily lunch for my grandchildren, if need be. I would rent a portable toilet, to insure they were safe just going to the bathroom. Thank you for being a good and honorable person to ensure they are not further used as political pawns, in this dangerous game.
Jay Kanta
June 23, 2022 at 12:57 pm
What a bunch of bigots live in Wyoming, now.
Gender is not sexualization. Gender identity and recognition is not sexualization of children. You people wallow in ignorance.
Debbie Davis
June 23, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Look in the mirror! We teach our children what we know and science and the Bible have proven. There are 2 genders. Get over it! Don’t like it, take it up with God!
edward capp
June 24, 2022 at 8:04 am
I think you need to watch more National Geographic to learn about the animal kingdom. There is male, and then there is female. Two genders. If a person decides to act/dress, call themselves whatever they want, great! But don’t expect someone to call you something you aren’t.
Ray Olson
June 24, 2022 at 8:50 am
Tell that to penguins.
M. Mann
June 25, 2022 at 12:55 pm
You wallow in your own fantasy world.
There are 2 genders only. End of discussion.
But feel free to continue the childish temper tantrums that the left always throws when it doesn’t get it’s way.
Ray Olson
June 23, 2022 at 5:07 pm
This is what happens when you have a Superintendent of Public Instruction who has never worked in a public school, he still thinks his constituency is made up only of the people he’s worked with all his career. Guess what, many of us live outside the conservative echo chamber of thinking we need to shelter our children from real history and real biology (which proves that sexuality is much more nuanced than “Me Tarzan, you Jane”). Thank you, Gov. Gordan for proving once again that your idea of centrism is somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun.
Thomas Jones
June 23, 2022 at 8:03 pm
You live in your own authoritarian leftist echo chamber, ray. I thought you would be taken aback by this extortion perpetuated by your cognitively challenged ‘president’ who needs a daily flow chart to tell him what to do. I see Im wrong. This is what happens when the people take a stand.
Ray Olson
June 24, 2022 at 9:05 am
Once again you’ve attempted to be the question by draging in a third party (you’re favorite tactic). Indeed of the 3 people you’ve now brought into this discussion one is cognitively challenged, and it isn’t Biden, nor IMHO is it me.
Ray Olson
June 24, 2022 at 9:06 am
Sorry- that should have read Beg the question