Derby residents pack school board meeting to support principal's lesson on 'white privilege'

Derby school board member Andy Watkins said he raised concerns about the video because he thinks terminology used in it “has a direct tie to critical race theory,” and he was concerned about “making this terminology … the norm.”
WICHITA, Kansas — Debate over a video about white privilege dominated the Derby school board meeting this week, with one board member linking the video to critical race theory and others saying they support its message and the principal who shared it.

More than 100 people packed into the board chambers and an overflow room for Monday’s meeting. Many wore green “Team Hamblin” T-shirts in support of Derby High Principal Tim Hamblin.

Hamblin spoke publicly for the first time since the controversy began, saying he shared the video with teachers in January after learning about race-based attacks on social media against two Black students.