St. Cloud School Board Censures Member Natalie Copeland Over Profanity Laden Social …

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud Area School Board voted to censure member Natalie Copeland for comments she made in an expletive-laden social media rant about ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement action. Copeland expressed anger on Facebook over what she described as ICE operations affecting students. She wrote in her now-deleted post that her daughter was unable to focus on a forensics test because her brain was in “think, fight, flight, or freeze mode.” She added that students were “on high alert.” She went on to curse President Donald Trump and anyone who voted for him. Wednesday night’s vote was five to one to censure Copeland for violating board policy 209, specifically for conduct unbecoming of a board member. Gina Acevedo was the only member who voted against the censure, and Copland herself abstained. Board Chair Shannon Hawes read a resolution stating that the social media post had caused stress, undermined public confidence, and unnecessarily used staff time and resources. Before the meeting got underway, the district held a 30-minute community input session in which 11 people spoke, with some supporting the board member’s free speech rights and others expressing outrage at what they read. Shortly after making the post earlier
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