Keller School Board Censures Member Who made Anti-Muslim Remarks

KELLER — The Keller school board voted Monday night to censure a new board member who made anti-Muslim comments online, but it could not persuade her to resign.

Jo Lynn Haussmann, who was elected to an open post in May, wrote a Facebook post last week about the Southlake City Council’s recent election. Her now-deleted post read, “Do you realize because SO FEW voters took the time and responsibility to VOTE in the municipal elections YOU NOW HAVE A ‘MUSLIM’ on the City Council!!! What A SHAME!!!!”

Haussmann has apologized for the post, but it wasn’t her first anti-Muslim comment online. Almost a year ago she commented on a YouTube video, attacking Muslims, abortion and same-sex marriage.

One of her comments read, “If Muslims aren’t for it, then why is Obama and all of his Muslim followers supporting it? Why is HE not decapitated!?!”

Another read, “I’d rather have a Mormon with HIGH MORALS than a Muslim!”

More than 200 people attended Monday’s meeting, which was called to allow the public to address Haussmann and the board.

The board, which cannot remove a member, sought Haussmann’s resignation to “re-establish trust with the Keller community.” She declined, and the board voted 5-1 to censure her. The vote against censure was cast by Haussmann.

In response to the censure, Haussmann said, “I’m so sorry that I have disappointed many but I know that I’m not perfect and I know I have a forgiving God and I know I can go on and give my heart to this ISD. My heart is with the children.”

John Schleeter was among a dozen protesters who held signs outside of the Keller Education Center before the meeting. His read: “Daddy — why does the school lady hate our church so much?”

Schleeter, whose nephew is a student in the district and is a Muslim, said Haussmann should resign. “Bigotry is the product of a lack of education, and you can’t have someone who needs to be educated in charge of education,” he said.

Out of the 48 people who signed up to speak, 36 people were chosen at random. Just six spoke in support of Haussmann.

James Malone was among her supporters. “Why are we here? There’s no reason. Let us have freedom of speech in our homes and on our Facebook pages.”

But most speakers sided with high school student and student council member Neha Muraly, who was the first to speak. “This saddens me to see such comments and know the trustee is not only undermining the man she addressed but also the students she is elected to represent.”

Missy Brewer, who has worked for the district as a librarian for 12 years and has two sons in high school, also spoke against the trustee. “I am a lifelong Christian and conservative voter. But an educational institution is not a place for political agenda.”