McCune Responds To Calls For His Resignation From WCASD Board

This story was updated at 4 p.m. to add comments from WCASD Board President Chris McCune.

WEST CHESTER, PA — The removal of a parent speaking in the July 26 meeting of the West Chester Area School District by Board President Chris McCune has evoked calls for his resignation, accusations of bullying, and demands that he withdraw himself from the race for reelection.

Near the end of the WCASD July 26 Board meeting, Anita Edgarian offered comments that grew in intensity and volume, speaking of her upbringing in an Islamic country where she was "hunted down," and accusing the board of causing division in the community. She called the division in the June meeting over Critical Race Theory "a nightmare." Critical Race Theory (CRT) refers to academic inquiry into how racism has functioned systemically in legal and social contexts, in history.

Edgarian asked, "Since when are my 12- and 13-year-old supposed to save the world?" a reference, presumably, to district equity policies that have come under fire by some parents, along with CRT.

At this point, McCune, from his seat, said, "You're at time," and the woman loudly said, "No." McCune said, "Yes," and got up and walked with very deliberate steps to the podium and turned off the microphone as the woman continued her speech, loudly. There was a mixture of booing and applause as McCune took the microphone and a police officer was called in.

"I want to know, are you teaching CRT to our teachers?" she said, as McCune waved for the officer to come and escort her out of the meeting. The woman continued to speak in what could be fairly called yelling, "Why did you say you cannot teach history without CRT?"

As Edgarian was walked out and was off-camera in the meeting video, she could still be heard calling out her remarks. McCune had returned to his seat and said as he sat down, "Move along, officers please escort her out." He admonished the woman for trying to "monopolize the meeting," calling her behavior "shameful."

There was applause from the audience as the officer escorted her out. In the full public YouTube video of the July 26 meeting, the incident in question happens at 1:52.

A YouTube video commentary of the incident, posted and viewed 109,961 times, shows McCune calling time on other speakers who quickly added ending remarks, running over their limits by 10-20 seconds. Speakers running slightly past their time-limit is typical in board meetings, and having a parent escorted out is unusual. The video suggested McCune acted out of prejudice because the woman is an immigrant.

The video narrative states McCune "responds in anger" and "storms off the stage." It does not mention that the woman's voice is loud enough and intense enough to be arguably classified as yelling, or that when told her time was up, she immediately shouted, "No." The other speakers did not do this, though they did continue for seconds after.

The commentary video also accuses McCune of using physical intimidation in removing Edgarian, and states that he may have actually touched the woman's hand as he was taking the microphone, but this is not clear in the video.

The commenter who followed Edgarian was a Black West Chester woman with three children in the School District. She addressed the board and the parents present, saying her children have been "called the 'N' word and sent nooses." The woman told parents present, "There is nothing wrong with teaching our children that my family came over from Africa on slave ships." She said it is "almost impossible to understand the dehumanization of Black people," after saying she'd visited the plantation where members of her family were sold for 5 cents. She said that is why we are "still dealing with systemic racism." Her comments were followed by loud applause.

McCune Responds

McCune addressed the matter of CRT in a statement to Patch on Monday. "The West Chester Area School District does not teach and has no plans to teach Critical Race Theory. We are committed to an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates diversity. In my eight years on the board, not a single parent has ever approached me with a concern nor has it ever been discussed at a single education meeting. I have met with representatives from the Chester County Republican Committee several times this year at their request to discuss their concerns. They have been unable to provide sufficient evidence to support their assertions within WCASD."

McCune is under fire from County Republicans and Libertarians who are calling for his resignation. The Republican Party of Chester County on Aug. 1 "condemn(s) the conduct of West Chester Area School District board president Chris McCune for his reprehensible actions" in the meeting.

The Chesco GOP letter acknowledges that the woman removed from the meeting "spoke longer than her allotted 2 minutes." The letter explained that the mother of three WCASD students and an immigrant from Iran, "decried the division that has been created over whether or not Critical Race Theory is being used in our schools."

The local Republican Party statement went on to say that "as a legal immigrant from Iran, who has experienced first-hand the threat of communism and Muslim theocracy, the speaker was cautioning against the same thing happening here." The letter said McCune allowed other speakers to exceed the two-minute comment limit, while this woman was escorted out by officers.

The woman's comments do not use the word "communism."

McCune responded on Monday saying, "Our public meeting procedures are in place to foster the civil exchange of ideas. At our most recent Board meeting there was a breakdown in this process. There is opportunity for improvement all the way around which includes me. The board is taking appropriate steps that will help avoid unpleasant situations like this in the future."

McCune told Patch, "As the current school board president, I remain focused on prioritizing student achievement and fiscal responsibility. WCASD is the lowest tax district in the county and ranks consistently in the top 5-10 percent academically across the state and nation. My focus is on bringing people together for the betterment of our school district and the future of children. My hope is that WCASD community will rise above those who seek to divide us."

"Education should not be political," he added.

Nearly 400 of 500 signatures aimed at have been gathered on a change.org petition titled "Move Along Chris McCune," calling for McCune to remove himself by 4:30 p.m. Monday from the ballot for reelection to the West Chester Area School District Board. The petition accuses McCune of "poor leadership and disdain for parents and the community," because of "physical and verbal bullying" and his condoning of "censorship of resident comments."

The petition also cites an issue with McCune's response to the pandemic in the past school year, saying the Board President "failed to listen and respond to the parent survey administered in July 2020 where 80 percent of parents stated that they wanted some level of in-person instruction for their children. President McCune voted to keep schools closed for the start of the 2020-21 school year and voted to not fully reopen schools for an entire calendar year."

The petition further states it is prepared for legal action against the entire sitting Board of Directors for its support of McCune's actions.

"As concerned citizens of the West Chester Area School District, we demand that President McCune voluntarily withdraws his candidacy for re-election by Aug. 9, 2021. If he fails to withdraw, residents are prepared to begin legal proceedings to recall EVERY current School Board member due to their support of President McCune’s reprehensible behavior."

The Board made a public statement in support of McCune last week. "As directors of the West Chester Area School District, we write to express our strong support for our colleague Chris McCune," the statement read.

"Mr. McCune has served the District with distinction over the eight years of his board membership. He is a conscientious, collaborative, and respectful colleague, and he consistently seeks to find the right balance between fiscal responsibility and educational excellence for the District. Just as important, Mr. McCune brings a commitment to reasonable debate and a desire to reach consensus to every conversation and decision."

"School boards have faced unprecedented challenges over the past 18 months, and new challenges await. At times such as these we need wise, common-sense leadership and a strong track record of sifting through competing and contradictory opinions, data, and demands in search of what is best for the WCASD. Mr. McCune embodies this brand of leadership, and as such he is an invaluable colleague. He has our full support," the statement concluded.

The statement was signed by all West Chester Area School Board Members — Sue Tiernan, Vice President; Joyce Chester; Gary Bevilacqua; Brian Gallen; Daryl Durnell; Randell Spackman; Kate Shaw; and Karen Herrmann.

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