MICHIGAN - House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) today held a field hearing at Richmond City Hall titled Deployed, Not Disqualified: Defending Servicemembers in Our Schools. The hearing examined how schools, communities, and government can better support servicemembers participating in their local school systems.
Master Sergeant Raymond Stier, an elected member of the Richmond Board of Education, faced pressure from fellow board members to resign while deployed overseas, despite attending board meetings virtually when he could. Some board members later criticized his absence as a "disservice".
The hearing featured testimony from Amy Stier, Master Sergeant Stier's wife; Colonel Chris Neeley, superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District; and Jonathan Butcher, an education policy expert at the Heritage Foundation.
"Richmond knew exactly whom it elected, a man with three decades in uniform," Chairwoman McClain said. "After being deployed to the Middle East, despite significant time zone differences, Master Sergeant Stier continued to serve his community virtually. He kept his oath to his country and to this community and took fire for both. The board members should be ashamed of forcing a servicemember to choose between serving their country and their community."
"Unfortunately, too many servicemembers face professional obstacles because of their military service, both while they are deployed and when they return home. Some have even faced outright employment discrimination, including in our nation's school systems," Chairman Walberg said. "Our schools should welcome servicemembers home, not criticize or penalize them for serving. These are parents who can bring a spirit of service to school boards, classrooms, volunteer organizations, and school leadership."
Watch the field hearing here.
