"It's heavier in the room," Maya Nanda said following the "Ragtime" controversy. "I think that we know how just how impactful this story is because of this, and we've gotten such a strong bond over these 24 hours."(Jeremiah Stephens / Provided)Weeks into his new position as Jefferson County Public Schools’ Chief Academic Officer, Nathan Balasubramanian ordered his subordinates to cancel a student theatre production over his own objections to its use of racial slurs, according to emails from a district board member.The August decision to cancel the production of “Ragtime” by duPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School prompted a viral social media post and outrage from students, parents, community members and even national celebrities. Within 12 hours, school officials announced a reversal of the decision to students and parents.The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting obtained emails from Jefferson County Board of Education board member Linda Duncan that provide a glimpse of dysfunction in the highest ranks of the state’s largest school district under its new leadership. They also raise questions about whether district officials were honest about what actually happened with the “Ragtime” show, how the decision was made, and who was in control. At the time, JCPS’ spokesperson claimed the show had not been cancelled and that the issue was a “miscommunication.”In the emails, Duncan is fending off a flood of criticism over the show’s cancellation. In doing so, she explains to angry constituents that Balasubramanian unilaterally ordered his direct report, Kim Morales, to call Manual’s principal and cancel the show.“[O]ne Chief, new to the district, took it upon himself to question whether kids should be compelled by the script to use racial slurs,” Duncan wrote in an email on Sept. 2 to a constituent frustrated with the “Ragtime” debacle.The production of “Ragtime” sparked some concerns among parents due to its use of the N-word and other ethnic slurs in the musical’s script that’s set in 1900’s New York. The story follows upper class white families, Jewish immigrants and Black Americans all pursuing the American Dream.Duncan confirmed to KyCIR by phone Friday that Balasubramanian directed Morales to cancel the show. Morales is the regional assistant superintendent of high schools. Duncan would not say how she learned the order of events, because a source told her “in confidence.”Balasubramanian did not respond to a request for comment. Michael Newman, Manual’s principal, declined to comment, saying he was not authorized to speak to the media. Morales referred KyCIR to JCPS Executive Officer of Communications and Community Relations Barnard Baker, who said the district “had already shared [it’s] position publicly and have acknowledged that there were communication errors that contributed to confusion surrounding this production.”“We apologized publicly to the students, staff, and families impacted by that confusion,” Baker wrote.Duncan’s emails seem to contradict Baker’s previous statement, which claimed that the show was not canceled, but that a “miscommunication” occurred during “a review process.”In emails with members of the public obtained by KyCIR, Duncan repeatedly said the show was never canceled because Balasubramanian “went rogue” and neither he nor Morales had the authority to shut down the production. JCPS Chief Academic Officer Nathan Balasubramanian(JCPS)“The odd part here is that no one thought to tell [JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood] what was taking place … Neither should have been ordering anyone to do anything in regard to this production. The fact is the show will go on as determined by the superintendent,” Duncan wrote to one person in an email sent near midnight on Aug. 29.Another board member, Tricia Lister, on Aug. 27 wrote to a member of the public concerned about the cancellation that “[a]pparently the Chief of Academics did it because of racial slurs.”Lister did not respond to a request for comment.Out of loop, admonished for raising concernsSometime before 9 p.m. on Aug. 26, Newman told Morales that the show was back on, according to the emails obtained by KyCIR. By then, parents and students already knew.Morales then emailed Yearwood and Balasubramanian to express frustration about being left out of the decision making process.“I respectfully ask to be included in instances like this, or at least provided a courtesy heads up,” Morales said in the late evening email, a little more than an hour after Manual staff alerted students and parents that the show would go on. “Additionally, not knowing about decisions like this or the rationale for the reversal, diminishes my credibility as [Newman’s] supervisor.”Yearwood responded the following morning. He said the final decision was his and he did not intend to exclude Morales but rather he needed to “make a timely decision.”He also asked her to respect the district’s “chain of command” when concerns arise. In her response, Morales said she will limit her communication to Balasubramanian in the future.Morales then emailed Balasubramanian advising him to communicate with JCPS board members about the decision. Morales included a screenshot from Duncan’s reply to a member of the public, saying the show was “never cancelled.”“Board members may need to be better informed. Such responses as the one below are muddying the already muddy water,” Morales said.Parents had concernsRecords show that some parents had concerns about the production. In an Aug. 21 email to Newman, a YPAS parent requested a “confidential meeting” to discuss “a few thoughts and concerns” about “Ragtime.” Newman scheduled a call for the following Monday — days before the cancellation.By the afternoon of Aug. 26, Newman emailed “Ragtime” cast, crew and pit orchestra members: “We received news from JCPS regarding the production of Ragtime. We have been told to cancel the production.”YPAS parents learned of this decision in a meeting with Newman later that evening. During the meeting, some parents discussed their concerns with the production.YPAS parent Katy Hopkins—who attended the meeting—recalled another parent’s perspective on the use of the N-word in the musical’s script.“There were also parents who were incredibly sensitive to the fact that this language, even this word, in appropriate historical context, carries with it the potential of being a traumatic experience,” she said in an interview with LPM News last month. “And what happens when the word is a part of entertainment or perceived to be a part of entertainment? Does it further normalize the use of the word.”YPAS parents had control over whether their students participated in the production. Hopkins said parents were given a permission slip to sign acknowledging the derogatory language in the musical.Additionally, YPAS had to purchase the rights to the music and the script for “Ragtime,” and approving the licensing came with a condition, Hopkins said.“Our understanding is that the licensing required that no changes to the script be made,” she said.Following that parent meeting, Newman got word that “Ragtime” would continue as planned, records show. He emailed the parents who reached out for the private meeting earlier in the week to explain the decision and he thanked them for sharing their perspective.“It helped others hear the struggle,” he said. “The concern, and the need for more education around Ragtime’s message.”This story has been updated with additional information. ...read more read less