Dozens show support for Derby principal who apologized for showing video about racism
A sea of green shirts with the hashtag “TeamHamblin” swarmed Derby’s school board meeting Monday night.
Dozens of Derby high school staff, students and community members attended the meeting to support principal Tim Hamblin, who was asked to apologize to his staff after showing a video about white privilege in an employee meeting in January.
About 10 speakers at the meeting said an apology should not have been warranted.
The video, which featured black educator and author Joy DeGruy, talks about one of DeGruy’s family members, who has lighter skin, using her white privilege to stand up against racism while they were at a grocery store.
Superintendent Heather Bohaty said no district policies were violated when Hamblin showed the video at a staff in-service day.
“I have clearly stated that since this has been brought to my attention that an apology should not be requested from DHS administration,” she said.
One board member asked Hamblin to apologize after a staff member told that board member they found the video offensive and that it made for a “hostile work environment,” according to documents obtained by KMUW’s Suzanne Perez through the Kansas Open Records Act.
During the board meeting, Hamblin said that was not his intent.
“I have always simply put kids first. Never my intent to push an agenda — my absolute heartfelt intent to help my kids,” he said.
Derby school board president Michael Blankenship said in a statement during the meeting that “a majority of the community would not approve of the video. That was not a political move, or a concern nor was it personal.”
Board member Matthew Joyce said one staff member complaining about the video does not constitute a majority of the community.
“That’s censorship and we shouldn’t be doing that in Derby schools,” Joyce said.
“Board members should always communicate these concerns through district administration, and have administration work on HR and personnel issues. It’s never appropriate for board members to suggest discipline for district staff,” Joyce added.
Former Derby school board president Janet Sprecker attended to support Hamblin. She served as a school board member from 2009 to 2018.
Sprecker says she was “saddened by the lack of understanding that the board members showed of their governance role for the school district.”
Sprecker said she served with 15 other community members in nine years on the board.
“I cannot recall an instance where a board member took it upon themselves to unilaterally apply this kind of pressure to an individual staff member after this came to my attention,” Sprecker said.
School board members will be presented with many different issues during their tenure, she said.
“Please make sure that you’re maintaining your 50,000-foot leadership view and addressing these issues and allow the exceptional educators employed by USD 260 to do their jobs,” Sprecker said.
In his statement at the beginning of the meeting, Blankenship said, “I would encourage all members of this community and faculty to gain a full understanding of this situation and follow the facts, not what is incorrectly reported by local and national media.”
The Eagle emailed Blankenship to ask for comment on the statement but has not heard back.
Bohaty said the video was also shown to the girls’ basketball team after some team members experienced racial comments on social media in December.
“DHS administration and the basketball coach did what they should. They took steps to heal from a situation that impacted the team and staff were kept informed and educated on it,” Bohaty said.
This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 7:04 PM.