Candidate List of Shame

At this meeting, Ms. Fletcher had made several disrespectful remarks.

As a man was speaking, she laughed at him, interrupted him, tried to stop him from speaking and argued with him. 

Next, as the protesters were leaving, she was caught on a hot mic saying, "And don't forget your F'ing signs."

These types of responses from Ms. Fletcher were common, regardless of the topic. 

The Oldham First Amendment website has the event meticulously documented and is worth reviewing.

https://www.oldhamfirstamendment.com 

In September 2021, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation allowing school districts to determine their own COVID-19 policies. Oldham County Schools chose to continue requiring masks rather than adopt a mask-optional approach, despite strong opposition from many parents. This decision prompted significant backlash from families.

Contrary to popular beliefs, there were school districts throughout Kentucky that allowed families to have mask-choice at that time, including Science Hill, Hickman County, Mercer County, Clinton County, and Gallatin County.

Even though information was emerging that face masks were not as effective as previously believed, she voted to continue the mask mandate on January 10th, 2022, anyway. 

Finally, in February 2022, OCPS ended the mask mandate. 

During this event, Ms. Fletcher mistakenly sent the following email to a community member instead of Mr. Queen. The recipient has granted permission for it to be shared anonymously. The message was sent prior to Mr. Queen being asked to decline the position due to his work as a boudoir photographer.

While it's unclear what exactly transpired behind the scenes, Mr. Queen shared this on social media:

Two years later, our Attorney General stated that DEI practices were unconstitutional.

At the June 27th, 2022 School Board meeting, Ms. Fletcher voted to approve of the FY23 Policy Change to include "gender identity" in their non-discrimination policy. 

The new policy sparked outrage in the community, with families raising concerns that it would lead to restrooms and locker rooms potentially being used by members of the opposit sex. 

In the Oldham Era article, Michelle Elliott stated at the July 2022 meeting, "Basically, the way I read [what you voted on last meeting], is [in order] for K-12 to get funding from the federal government, you said a boy can basically use a girls’ restroom,” she said. “And you voted yes to have that happen…If you didn’t know what you were voting for, then, for lack of a better word, shame on you. You should have known. Do you feel that it’s ok to take money from the federal government to put my daughter at potential risk? I’m not saying anything has happened yet, but it’s my job as a parent to protect my child and see danger before it happens.”

Ms. Elliott also alleged that at North Oldham Middle School, a girl was walked in on [in the bathroom] by a boy in a dress. 

In addition to Ms. Elliott alleging that a student was using opposite-sex restrooms, at the August 29th, 2022 School Board meeting,  Joe Dennis shared two examples he was aware of involving students using opposite-sex restrooms, as well. 

Oldham County Schools strongly denied the allegations at first. 

Not all Board Members were on the same page. At the July 2022 meeting, Board Member Patrick Kehoe stated that he believed it could have affected bathrooms usage and apologized for voting for the policy. 

The Oldham Era reported,  "When public comment concluded at the July meeting, board member Patrick Kehoe apologized to Elliott about the policy change. “Shame on me because I did miss that policy last meeting,” he said. “For the record I called most of the board members here. We would have lost about $6.5 million. And I probably would have lost it, because I don’t believe in the opposite sex going in to another bathroom. I just wanted to make that statement clear."

Additionally, through an Open Records Request done by Attorney Clint Elliott, it was revealed at the August 29th, 2022 Board meeting, that the district had long-standing "Guidelines" of allowing transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms of their choice. 

As public pushback continued, the district finally conceded that they were, in fact, allowing transgender bathroom usage. The Oldham Era reported, "Although the district says that specific scenario hasn’t happened, [Lori] Webb confirmed in an email Friday afternoon that numerous staff members work together to make bathroom accommodations for transgender students when requested."

In 2023, the State Legislature passed a law banning transgender communal restroom use in schools. In June of 2023, Oldham County Schools revised their policy to comply with state law to restrict students from entering restrooms of the opposite biological sex, if other students could be present. Ms. Fletcher was not on the Board at this time. 

The Oldham Era reported, "KRS 158.189 requires the Board, after allowing public comment at an open meeting, to adopt this Policy (09.141), necessary to protect the privacy rights for students, that at a minimum, does not allow students to use restrooms, locker rooms or shower rooms that are reserved for students of a different biological sex.”