Newberg school board officially approves policy banning political symbols, Newberg teachers sue district, school board members over political image ban in schools, Newberg school employee goes to work in blackface, is put on leave. Unfortunately, a few school board members are forcing through these inappropriate, and possibly illegal, changes, which will have long-lasting consequences and threaten student safety. The board voted to table that item during Tuesday's meeting. She tried to get gas. Superintendent: Dr. Stephen Phillips School board director and vice chair Brian Shannon, who voted for the measure and added the language about apparel, said the "main goal of this is to get political symbols and divisive symbols out of our schools so we can focus on the already difficult task of educating our students in the core subjects.". The reasoning behind the Boards decision is that the imagery is political in nature, and distracts from the already challenging task of preparing our youth with a quality education. email:phillipss@newberg.k12.or.us, Address: 714 E. Sixth St,NewbergOR 97132-3406 That does make me a defiant outlier in the face of this board. Related: Newberg school board officially approves policy banning political symbols. Studies, statistics, research and experts can prove 100 times over that removing those items is harmful and thats what were looking at: trying to be supportive of kids. Comments will be read in the order they are received. The board is also expected to discuss challenging the state's mask mandate at their next meeting. For the kids that cant say anything now, I wanted to be that voice for them.Jozie Donaghey, Amanda Boothby, Newberg High School graduate and protest organizer. Numerous school and district administrators also have resigned from the district. [5], There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. We cannot let this group of 4 impose their own political agenda, erode our rights, and strip our support of our students. Newberg Public Schools Board of Directors / YouTube. 971-385-2880, Tabitha Renne And those are my kids. To get in touch with any Director, you may contact them directly or contact School Board Secretaryat 503-554-5000 The entire Board can be reached atboardmembers@newberg.k12.or.us. NEWBERG, Ore. A bitterly divided Newberg school board, which has been enveloped in controversy for the past few months over its decision to pass a policy limiting the kinds of images or signs . She said her family was heartbroken when they heard that Morelock had been fired. On the day before Thanksgiving, as Newberg school district staff scrambled to fulfill other duties after the firing of superintendent Joe Morelock, Newberg School Board chair Dave Brown. In a statement shared Thursday, the Oregon legislatures Black, Indigenous, People of Color Caucus said the boards decisions threaten Newbergs economic vitality. The group also said it will take action in the next legislative session. All rights reserved (About Us). abruptly firing former Newberg superintendent Joe Morelock without cause, he board named as its next superintendent, Stephen Phillips. On Sept. 1, Morelock said during a board meeting that he wouldn't uphold the ban because he'd been advised by district lawyers that it was illegal. Why are prominent Los Angeles Latinos saying such racist things. To understand what theyre going through right now is so important, said Hetrick.Jozie Donaghey, Holly Hetrick, parent and childrens counselor, This is a no-brainer. NEWBERG, Ore. When the Newberg School District Board of Directors voted 4-3 to fire former Superintendent Joe Morelock without cause on Nov. 9, multiple dissenting board members. They filed a lawsuit against the school district and the four board members who voted for the policy chair Dave Brown, vice chair Brian Shannon, Renee Powell and Trevor DeHart. Also Tuesday night, the board discussed its first complaint under the new political symbols ban, a rainbow sign in an elementary school window that said Be Known, a slogan used by George Fox University. The initial vote drew immediate backlash from community members, sparking peaceful protests from the LGBTQ and Black communities. Appointed in 2022 - Term expires 6/30/23 YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The appointee serves until June of the next election year, which in this case is 2023. Maybe it's nothing to you as a white privileged male, but it's a really big deal to a lot of our community, a lot of our staff, and a lot of our students.. Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. The lawsuit, first filed in Yamhill County Circuit Court by the Portland law firm Bennett Hartman, was advanced to U.S. District Court in Portland in December 2021 as a civil rights case. Newberg School District (29J) is a public school district headquartered in Newberg in the U.S. state of Oregon. Climate Conference in Glasgow, connecting Newberg with trouble and conflict facing school boards across the country. "I'm baffled why you feel this needed to be done and why you feel it needed to be done tonight," Piros said. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). It protects marginalized populations in our student and staff bodies. After the vote to remove Morelock, Penner and Piros spoke emotionally about his impact on the district, and the board majoritys lack of reasoning given for firing Morelock. The split between the boards majority and minority was clear, with members in the majority remaining quiet, and minority members repeatedly objecting to the speed of the conversation and pointing out the cost, financial and otherwise, of losing Morelock. A simple pride or BLM flag in a classroom shows the love and acceptance that we need, Till said. "These symbols arent hurting anyone and I dont see why banning them is necessary," said Pea. A staff member at Mabel Rush Elementary School, identified as Lauren Pefferle, showed up to work this month dressed as Rosa Parks with her face darkened with dye to protest a vaccination mandate for all public school employees in Oregon. The school boards symbols policy also drew sharp comments from the Oregon State Board of Education, Oregon House Democrats, and the Oregon School Boards Association. In the board packet for Tuesday's school board meeting, one agenda item was to address Morelock's response to a Newberg citizen's complaint about a sign in the window of a classroom at Dundee Elementary. This motion was not allowed to go to vote. The disputes in the Newberg School Board have come as schools nationwide have become rife with arguments over vaccine and mask mandates, how racism is addressed in teaching, instruction. I assume that is because the state court had already enjoined enforcement of the school board policy that led to both of the lawsuits. The firing is effective Nov. 19 and according to board member Brandy Penner, the district will continue to pay Morelock his salary and benefits for the next 12 months, in addition to paying the salary and benefits for the district's next superintendent. I think the point of this is to show that you are trying to sow division with extremist views and you have no interest in listening to the community, school board member Brandy Penner said in the meeting. Find Your . The board's main job is to establish District policy. parents, moving secondary school schedules to trimesters, and changing start times to earlier for all ages. One of the board members, Renee Powell, said in an email to OPB that she was not aware of hearing and had nothing to report at this time. No one else from the board had gotten back to OPB by the time of publication. The lawsuit was filed in August 2021 on behalf of four teachers and counselors: Jennifer Schneider, Andrew Gallagher, Katherine Villalobos and Sara Linnertz. [2] Portions are in Clackamas County and Washington County. If we want to have these symbols and speak our minds we should be able to, silencing us isnt OK., I would tell them to think before you create action. Such a bold statement, and so were out here making ours., Charlie Gates, Newberg High School graduate, As a transgender Black man, I wanted to share some of my story and support the Black and LGBTQ community. Penner then asked Brown to adjourn the meeting, despite there being more items on the agenda, saying, "I don't think anything constructive will happen with this board again.". He said in the Tuesday evening meeting that the policy championed and adopted by him and his conservative colleagues is very straightforward and shouldnt be controversial., We dont pay our teachers to push their political views on our students. After hearing from a fraction of. This sentiment has been expressed by students who have recently given public comment in School Board meetings, one even stating that the Pride flag could mean life or death for some, given an estimate that at least one transgender minor attempts suicide every 45 seconds. The dissenting board members said the move to fire Morelock, coupled with litigation over the controversial political symbols ban, could have a grave financial impact on the district. Easterday also granted the school districts and board members argument that the policy is not necessarily discriminatory under Article 1, Section 20 of the state constitution. Board members said they did not receive the documents until the executive session that evening. Its just such a bold statement to make. "I protest that none of you had anything to say about why you wanted to do this, that the public is ," Piros said before she was interrupted by Brown. On Thursday, Yamhill County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Easterday ruled that the policy is unconstitutional under Article 1, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of speech and the press. The students are not being heard., The board was also expected to work on "replacement language" for the district's anti-racism policy and consider re-examining the Oregon Department of Education's "Every Student Belongs" policy, which, in part, "prohibits hate symbols, specifically three of the most recognizable symbols of hate in the U.S. the swastika, the Confederate flag, and the noose.". There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. The apparel rule would only apply to staff while they are working. An Oregon school board on Tuesday voted to ban educators from displaying Pride flags, Black Lives Matter symbols or other emblems in the classroom that are considered political, quasi-political or controversial, despite pushback from teachers, lawmakers and residents. "My child is LGBTQ and so now I'm out here fighting for their rights and their voice. On Wednesday morning, KGW spoke to Heidi Pender, whose daughter is a freshman at Newberg High School. This move is yet another example of a board majority bringing instability to our schools. I wont be able to enforce it as it is until weve gone through a bunch of legal review, he said. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. Tue, January 18th 2022, 2:18 PM PST. pic.twitter.com/XqAevRkRB7. [8], An elementary school employee of the district reported to work wearing blackface in "protest" of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. These counter-protesters noted they simply wanted to voice their support for the ban. The Newberg teachers union said the firing was another example of a board majority bringing instability to the districts schools. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) Two members of the a school board in Oregon have announced their resignations at a board meeting this week, citing controversial board decisions in the past year. The judge ruled Thursday that a policy banning certain symbols displayed in schools is unconstitutional. Mailing Address for the Board Under new business, we are discussing the superintendent, said board chair Dave Brown. NEWBERG, Ore. A bitterly divided Newberg school board, which has been enveloped in controversy for the past few months over its decision to pass a policy limiting the kinds of images or signs school employees can display on campus, voted to fire Superintendent Joe Morelock near the conclusion of a late-night board meeting Tuesday. NEWBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT|714 E. 6TH ST. NEWBERG, OREGON 97132|(503) 554-5000. "Newberg Public Schools Contact Information", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Yamhill County, OR", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clackamas County, OR", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washington County, OR", "Count of homeless students in Oregon school districts, 2008-2009", "The Newberg school board issue: How did we get here? For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Those wishing to speak at the regular session will need to complete the Newberg School Board Public Comment form and submit it to the board secretary prior to the start of the meeting. Screenshot taken from YouTube. Following the vote, Piros spoke again, addressing the four board members who voted to fire Morelock. The Oregon Legislatures Black, Indigenous and People of Color caucus condemned the move and the American Civil Liberties Union told The Newberg Graphic the ban is likely unconstitutional. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. Those are my kids' classrooms that you are taking money from.". Before the resolution was brought forward, Penner, Piros and Pena attempted to stop it and adjourn the meeting. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Amanda Boothby, a 2015 Newberg High School graduate, organized Tuesdays demonstration. [1], It is mostly in Yamhill County, where it serves the cities of Newberg and Dundee. written and/or digital) that contains information relating to the conduct of the school districts business could be subject to a public records request without prior notice to sender. It argues that the policy violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment guaranteeing free speech and the 14th Amendment, which guarantees due process and equal protection under the law. Board member Brandy Penner countered that the top five performing schools in the state had diversity coordinators and diversity statements, while the districts that were struggling educationally have a "lack of anything to do with equity. Families, staff, and community members marched in support of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter ahead of a Newberg school board meeting Aug. 10, 2021. Forms will also be available at the regular session board meetings. Penner and Piros spoke out against the resolution and the board's four members who were in support of it. In a statement sent after the meeting, the Superintendent Cabinet of Newberg Public Schools said it is "shocked and dismayed that the Board would take this disruptive action in the middle of the school year.". The Board hires the superintendent, who is responsible to carry out Board policies, provide educational leadership and manage the District's budget and staff. Newberg School District board member Rebecca Piros said she can no longer work with people who she feels do not have the best interests of every student and every staff member at heart, KGW-TV reported . Protests against the School Board decision take place on a weekly basis, though pro-BLM demonstrations in Newberg were first inspired over a year ago in the wake of the racial justice demands that were revitalized in 2020. Our educators are united in their goal to create classrooms where students can walk in and feel like they belong.. Two of those board members were elected this past May. What brought you out tonight to the protest? The union claims that the district policy violates state and federal constitution. Newberg School Board Public Comment Sheet- Intent to Speak, May 2nd, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - Budget Committee Mtg. The ACLU of Oregon and law firm Davis Wright Tremaine argued that the ban violates the Oregon Constitution. The employee was terminated from her position. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. "We will be paying for two superintendents," Penner said during the meeting. The board discussion and vote to remove Morelock was tense. The specific dates can be found here. Gov. Penner and Piros said the packet outlining the resolution to fire Morelock was not provided to board members until the executive meeting, hours before the board meeting, and so there was insufficient time to review the motion.
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