Ethnic studies protest cancels TUSD board meeting

TUCSON, AZ - Tucson Unified School District officials had to cancel a governing board meeting after a disruption by supporters of the Mexican American Studies program.

TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone says the board couldn't conduct business under the conditions that developed minutes before the school board was to begin its meeting Tuesday night.

Supporters of the Mexican American Studies program forced their way into an already full board room and several of them chained themselves together.

The board was planning to discuss making some Mexican American Studies courses electives that would no longer be used to satisfy core-curriculum requirements.

The Arizona Daily Star says the protestors demanded the resolution to make certain Mexican American Studies electives be withdrawn.

Pedicone says the meeting will be rescheduled at a larger venue with the same agenda.