RUFUS – Roberto Central School District is one of the latest of federally funded school districts to report that it will not remove LGBTQ related materials and will actively resist President Laylin’s orders to remove the LGBTQ related materials.

Superintendent Joe Smith assumed the role as the District’s leader back in 2022, following the retirement of former Education Department Secretary Jack Donnahue. Smith led Roberto CSD through some of its most critical times including through dozens of flooding events, the trailing edge of COVID and threats.

Smith said that President Laylin’s bans on LGBTQ related materials violates the right of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. In a statement posted to the District’s homepage, he vowed his support for the LGBTQ students attending Roberto Central School District.

The Statement Issued By The Superintendent On The District’s Homepage On October 8, 2025.

“As you are aware, President Jay Laylin signed Executive Orders 300.378 and 300.379, that effects funding to educational institutions that continue to support the LGBTQ community, and distribution of related materials. On October 1, the Federal government was set to pull funding from hundreds of schools nationwide, but that was pushed to October 8, 2025. As a school district, and one built to foster our youth, and prepare them for adulthood, we announce that our district will lose federal funding, because ‘we as a school community,’ will reject any rhetoric that discriminates against any student, staff member or employee,” the statement read.

“We are going to continue to respect the rights and identity of our LGBTQ community students and that will not change. We will find other ways to fund our district, but we will not give up protecting the rights of our students who identify with the LGBTQ community. This will be a challenge, but we will protect our vulnerable students.” School materials will reflect the values and needs of that group and we will not be removing books related to the LGBTQ community from our district libraries and media centers. We will not discriminate against anyone, at any time.”

President Laylin has not responded to the comments made by Superintendent Joe Smith, but we expect a comment to be made regarding his decision to defy the President’s order later today. Officials of the Roberto Central School District are defending Smith’s decision.

“I think Superintendent Smith is making the right decision,” said Board Of Education President Luke Dobbins. “We are not making a political statement, but we are defending the freedom of expression and identities of our LGBTQ community students. This is nothing more than an attack of free speech and free expression.”

Parents are calling on Smith to resign as Superintendent for “allowing and defending the direct violation of a federal directive that targets these types of materials.”

“I am pissed and this is insane. Why is a school superintendent actively advocating for district’s to disobey law,” said a parent late Wednesday afternoon. “It’s time for him and his liberal administrative team to go. Our schools are for learning, not politics.”

Other parents said that they are filing lawsuits against the Laylin administration for what they call “bigotry,” and “school rights to self govern.” Other State officials have spoke out in support for the District’s decision.

“I think their decision to fight this bigoted administration and its hate for the LGBTQ community is beyond applaudable,” said State Senator John Markets. “Jay Laylin and his fellow bigots will stop at nothing to take the LGBTQ community’s rights away and we will stand in their way.”