Friends, it has been a dark week in Cobb County. It is no accident that ICE has been out in force in East Cobb ahead of Donald Trump’s visit. Every split family falls on the superintendent and the republicans on the school board. We’ve been getting a lot of questions about what folks can do in the runup to Trump’s visit to Wheeler High School on Wednesday. The most important thing you can do right now is email the superintendent of Cobb County Schools as well as the Board of Education, which oversees the superintendent. We are not accepting lack of accountability. The board is deflecting to the superintendent who is deflecting to the White House, but make no mistake, this decision was made here in Cobb and the accounatbility stays in Cobb.
We have put together a potential script for you to follow.
Here are the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of the board and superintendent:
- Superintendent Chris Ragsdale – [email protected] – 770-426-3453
- Post 1 Randy Scamihorn – [email protected] – 770-337-8553
- Post 2 Becky Sayler – [email protected] – 470-240-7778
- Post 3 Dr. Leroy Tre’ Hutchins – [email protected] – 470-709-7783
- Post 4 David Chastain (up for reelection) – [email protected] – 678-896-6399
- Post 5 John Cristadoro – [email protected] – 470-563-2919
- Post 6 Nichelle Davis – [email protected] – 404-398-4830
- Post 7 Brad Wheeler – [email protected] – 770-335-5982
Subject: Immediate Action Required: Donald Trump’s Visit to Wheeler High School
Dear Members of the Cobb County Board of Education and Superintendent Ragsdale:
I am writing to demand immediate transparency and action regarding President Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance at Wheeler High School.
Wheeler High School is a taxpayer-funded public school. It is not a campaign venue, a partisan backdrop, or a political prop. The Cobb County School District has confirmed that Trump is visiting for an event described as highlighting education and student achievement. However, the public has not received adequate information explaining how this event was approved, whether it complies with district policy, who will participate, or who will bear the costs.
This concern is even more serious because of Donald Trump’s established legal record.
A federal civil jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. He was also criminally convicted by a New York jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. These are not political rumors or social media allegations. They are findings reached through the American judicial system.
The Cobb County School District must explain how welcoming an individual with this record onto a public school campus aligns with its responsibility to protect students, support survivors, model accountability, and maintain an educational environment grounded in safety and respect.
This is not simply about political disagreement. It is about policy, judgment, transparency, student welfare, and the appropriate use of public school property.
I am calling upon the Board and superintendent to:
- Explain how this event was approved and what district policy allows it.
- Identify who requested the event, who approved it, and when.
- Explain whether this is an official government event, a political event, or a private rental.
- Release all public records related to the event, including the facility request, security plan, estimated costs, and any special accommodations.
- Confirm that no students, teachers, or staff will be required or pressured to attend, participate, or appear in photos.
- Explain whether taxpayer-funded resources, district staff, or school communications are being used for this event.
- Explain how the district will protect student safety and minimize disruptions to learning.
- Explain how the district considered the impact on students who are survivors of sexual abuse or who may feel unsafe because of this event.
- Explain what steps are being taken to protect Wheeler’s immigrant students and families, including safeguarding student privacy and ensuring every student feels safe coming to school.
- Explain how traffic, security, and emergency access will be managed during the visit.
The district cannot claim that student safety, character, accountability, and respectful conduct are central values while refusing to publicly address the decision to host a person who has been found civilly liable for sexual abuse and convicted of 34 felonies.
The rules cannot apply strictly to students, teachers, parents, and community organizations but suddenly become flexible for a politically powerful individual.
Our public schools belong to Cobb County’s students, families, educators, and taxpayers. They do not belong to Donald Trump, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, or any elected official seeking a political stage.
I am requesting a written response before the event, along with the immediate release of all records related to its approval.
Silence is not transparency. Refusing to act is still a decision. Cobb County residents deserve answers, and our students deserve better.
