Allard: "It's Time to Fully Take on the ASD. Get Ready!"
Oh boy.
Eagle River Assembly member Jamie Allard, intoxicated by the fumes of Bronson’s marginal win over Forrest Dunbar, made an announcement this week in the Alaska Parents Rights’ In Education (APRE) Facebook group. But before we get to the announcement, we must cover a little background first.
Parents’ Rights In Education (PRIE) is a 501(c)(3) located in Hillsboro, Oregon, and whose Principal Officer is listed as Suzanne Gallagher. PRIE files a yearly 990-N (e-Postcard) electronic notice — most small organizations that receive less than $50,000 fall into this category.
PRIE is a “Conservative” organization that claims anti-racism curriculum is racist and must not be taught in schools. The organization opposes the K-12 Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curriculum, which they suggest is “designed to challenge or change traditional sexual and gender norms of society.”
According to APRE’s website, “The LGBTQ+ advocates groom preschool children at libraries, indoctrinate students grades K-5 in public school, and recruit students grades 6-8, in middle school Gender & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Clubs representing over 4000 GSA clubs across the nation. Militant activism, grades 9-12, is fostered in both public schools and libraries.”
The organization also takes issue with the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, which it says works to make LGBTQ+ persons a protected class.
PRIE encourages donations to the PRIE Political Action Committee (PAC) and people to run for school boards in their city. They note that the qualifications to serve on the school board do not require any higher education, a fascinating, specific notation. PRIE has ‘chapters’ loosely organized on Facebook for Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington State.
ALASKA’s Parents Rights’ In Education (APRIE)
PRIE’s Alaska chapter (APRE) spends a lot of time referencing Critical Race Theory, a subject matter the group may believe is being taught or will be taught in Alaska schools when in reality, it is not, nor are there any plans to do so. The group seems to conflate the Anchorage School District’s recently passed anti-racism and equity policies with Critical Race Theory.
APRE is very cautious about who it lets join the group, having posted recently that unless you’re showing your real face in your Facebook profile picture, they must “consider not allowing you to join.”
Links to the Alaska Watchman and Alaskans for Constitutional Rights can be found littering the group, and pictures of Alaska residents holding anti-BLM signs can also be found in addition to a host of pro-Bronson content.
Former failed Anchorage School Board candidate Judy Eledge suggested on May 8, 2021, that the group testify at every Anchorage school board meeting — a sentiment echoed last week by known elements of the far-right in Anchorage. Familiar names associated with the Save Anchorage Facebook group can also be found in the comment sections of many APRE posts.
Save Anchorage is mentioned in APRE more than a few times, but most notably in April of this past year when members asked if a particular petition had been shared to Save Anchorage. The petition, created by APRIE’s Administrator, claimed that two proposed policies were “written in the language of Social Equity Theory and Critical Race Theory.” The petition also asked parents to “take a stand to protect our children.”
Recently, the group has threatened to keep children out of schools if masks aren’t made optional for Alaska students in the fall of 2021 and threatened a statewide petition.
Eagle River Assembly member Jamie Allard, who may be eyeing a run for Rep. Kelly Merrick’s seat, announced to APRE on May 20, 2021, that “It’s Time to Fully Take on the ASD. Get Ready!” Not everyone has been able to see Allard’s post to the group, likely because she has intentionally blocked Alaska residents.
This afternoon, Allard shared another post to her Facebook page, which stated, “Critical Race Theory is Racist,” and tagged the Anchorage School District, proclaiming, “We are awake!”
The supernova level of Allard’s wokeness here cannot be understated.
It is expected the End of Year Town Hall Meeting sponsored by the Anchorage School Board will draw the attention of those affiliated with APRE.
You can join the Anchorage School Board on May 26 at 6 pm for their first Town Hall Meeting, which is expected to be lively. More information on the Town Hall and the link to provide testimony is located here: https://www.asdk12.org/Page/18287
