A Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools board member is facing backlash after calling Spanish-language public comments delivered at a recent meeting disrespectful, prompting sharp pushback from local Latino advocacy leaders. Pamela Penn-Hicks said she considered the display disrespectful because only one board member speaks Spanish and the rest were not given a way to understand what was being said.
The comments in question came from Edgar Palacios, founder and CEO of Revolución Educativa, who addressed the USD 500 board of education entirely in Spanish, according to KCTV5. Palacios said he chose Spanish because he could, telling the station that bilingualism is an asset in today's world and that he planned to submit an English transcription of his remarks after the meeting. He said Penn-Hicks' reaction echoed the barriers faced by multilingual and immigrant families, and argued that bilingualism is a sign of commitment, intelligence and belonging rather than disrespect.
A District Built on Bilingual Families
The dispute lands in a district where more than 57% of students are Hispanic or Latino, per the station's report, and 53% of students live in homes where a language other than English is spoken. Roughly 9,500 students come from Spanish-speaking households, and KCKPS serves families across 65 languages overall. KCTV5 reports that KCKPS serves families across 65 languages overall, and district records show more than 42% of USD 500 students are classified as English Language Learners.
Those numbers track with broader shifts across Wyandotte County, where Hispanic or Latino residents made up 33.0% of the county's population in 2020 and accounted for the entirety of the county's net population growth between 2010 and 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data compiled by the Mid-America Regional Council. USD 500 serves over 22,000 students.
Advocates Condemn the Remarks
El Centro, Inc., which has served the local Latino community for 50 years, condemned the board member's comments, the same report notes. The organization traces its roots to 1976, when it launched in Wyandotte County with a $10,000 grant from the Catholic Archdiocese, and it now serves more than 12,000 Latino individuals and families annually through dual-language early education, health navigation and civic advocacy, according to El Centro, Inc.
Erica Andrade called on elected leaders to foster inclusion rather than criticism, arguing that listening to an unfamiliar language for three minutes is an opportunity to experience what KCKPS families navigate every day. She said officials should use available interpretation tools rather than criticize speakers who choose to address the board in a language other than English.
What Board Policy Actually Requires
Board policy BCBI states its purpose is fostering collaborative efforts between school personnel, parents and the community, and it requires speakers to notify the board clerk by noon the day before a meeting. The policy allocates up to 20 minutes total for community comment, with individual speakers granted up to three minutes each. Notably, the policy mentions no language restrictions or English-only mandates, and it establishes no formal protocols for non-English speakers or live podium translation, the station reports.
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools affirmed its support for diverse students, families and staff and said it celebrates Hispanic and Latino contributions during Hispanic Heritage Month. The district says translation services are available at all board meetings, though it does not require community guest speakers to use a translator. Penn-Hicks has not responded to KCTV5's requests for comment.
Debate Echoes Earlier Board Discussion
This is not the first time communication gaps have surfaced at USD 500 board meetings. In March, board members raised concerns about communication gaps with community members during discussions on expanding Spanish and English instructional materials, according to The Beacon. That same meeting saw Board President Randy Lopez remind members that public statements by officials carry real weight and can cause harm to the community.
Advocates say the fight is not over. Groups including El Centro and Revolución Educativa plan to attend future school board meetings and push for proactive language accommodations for parents speaking any language, not just Spanish, according to KCTV5's reporting. The dispute comes as USD 500 continues to navigate other high-profile tensions, including a teacher's protection order dispute tied to board-related social media posts.
