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Bob Graf stated he is grateful for the help and being supplied a contract for the following college yr
ASHLAND, Wis. — Round 70 college students, dad and mom and a few lecturers inside the Ashland College District spoke out in protest Wednesday night in help of an artwork trainer and LGBTQ co-advisor who was not too long ago placed on paid administrative depart and confronted non-renewal of his contract after unsubstantiated allegations of being a “pedophile” and a “groomer.”
In the course of the eight o’clock hour, that trainer, Bob Graf, exited the district constructing and stated the college board determined to maintain him on board because the artwork trainer and co-advisor to the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA).
The night began round 5:30 p.m. with the massive protest exterior the district’s administrative constructing. Adults, college students, each female and male, have been gathered. Some have been holding LGBTQ supportive indicators and flags.
Graf briefly thanked everybody for his or her help earlier than he entered the constructing for a 5:45 p.m. inner listening to of kinds about his potential dismissal from the district. He stated either side offered their proof concerning the complaints.
Organizers of the protest advised FOX 21 that dropping Graf from the district could be a lack of a voice for younger college students struggling to search out their identification.
Video from Wednesday’s Protest under:
“Bob was at all times there. He at all times made us really feel higher. He was variety, supportive of us all. Regardless of who you might be, what you seem like, who you like – anybody,” defined Dorian Foster-Reimer, a 15-year-old highschool scholar. “He helped so many individuals, together with me, get out of their shell about being who they honestly are, and so many individuals discovered themselves in that room,” Dorian defined of the GSA room.
“If we have been distracted or one thing, he at all times makes certain that we’re OK, and I’ve loads of associates as effectively who actually miss him, and he’s like the very best trainer,” stated Winniferd Foster-Reimer, Dorian’s 13-year-old sister and scholar at Ashland Center College.
Full interview with the Foster-Reimer sisters under:
When Graf exited the assembly with the board after 8 p.m., he advised FOX 21 and others ready exterior that he was relieved to be renewed for the following college yr. He stated he appreciated the neighborhood’s help publicly and the various letters they despatched to the board whereas he was on paid administrative depart for the previous month.
Graf stated the district wanted to research him after allegations of inappropriate touching of scholars have been reported, together with accusations of being a “pedophile” and “groomer.”
He stated he denies all accusations and believes they arrive from individuals who don’t like his overwhelming help of the LGBTQ-plus neighborhood inside the college.
“Completely ecstatic… The toughest factor concerning the final month and being out has been being away from my children,” Graf stated. “Sadly, adolescents at this age within the center college – they’re simply studying about so much this stuff. So typically they’re simply making an attempt it out. Generally they don’t perceive what they actually imply and now we have loads of schooling.”
“However there are some college students who weaponize it, you realize, and I stated this in right here and I’d say it wherever, sadly there are individuals who really feel like winner, winner hen dinner, if I make an accusation, I can get that trainer out of my room. And that’s actually sadly and we actually want, particularly employees and oldsters, to get collectively and be on the identical web page … and we need to make it possible for they’re shifting ahead for fulfillment,” Graf defined.
Graf’s full interview under:
FOX 21 reached out to Supt. Robert Prater and his assistant twice Wednesday and as soon as Thursday for touch upon this story, however we didn’t hear again.
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