St. Cloud School Board Censures Member Natalie Copeland Over Profanity Laden Social Media Post About ICE Operations

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud Area School Board voted to censure member Natalie Copeland for comments she made in an expletive-laden social media rant about ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement action.

Copeland expressed anger on Facebook over what she described as ICE operations affecting students. She wrote in her now-deleted post that her daughter was unable to focus on a forensics test because her brain was in “think, fight, flight, or freeze mode.” She added that students were “on high alert.” She went on to curse President Donald Trump and anyone who voted for him.

Wednesday night’s vote was five to one to censure Copeland for violating board policy 209, specifically for conduct unbecoming of a board member. Gina Acevedo was the only member who voted against the censure, and Copland herself abstained.

Board Chair Shannon Hawes read a resolution stating that the social media post had caused stress, undermined public confidence, and unnecessarily used staff time and resources.

Before the meeting got underway, the district held a 30-minute community input session in which 11 people spoke, with some supporting the board member’s free speech rights and others expressing outrage at what they read.

Shortly after making the post earlier this month, Copeland deleted it and issued an apology, stating that she had spoken as a mother who was afraid for her child and that her emotions came through in a way that does not reflect how she strives to communicate, especially as a community leader.

Copeland expanded on that while speaking to a standing-room-only crowd at the meeting. “My goal, as always, is to raise awareness and lessen suffering in our community. With my now-deleted social media post, I missed the mark and brought negative attention to those closest to me professionally and personally.” Copeland went on to say, “My statement compromised the board and administration and was harmful to the school community. For that, I am genuinely sorry and I am committed to being more considerate in the future.”

Censure is a formal, public reprimand or strong expression of disapproval for misconduct that doesn’t warrant expulsion but is serious enough to damage a person’s or group’s reputation and status. It does not remove her from the board.

Copeland is also the executive director of the Local Education and Activities Foundation, a separate organization that serves as the district’s fundraising arm and promotes initiatives, including child literacy programs, math skills development, and the Adopt a Classroom project that helps teachers fund classroom needs. LEAF also manages endowment funds to provide supplemental funding for academics, activities, arts, and athletics.

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