In a contentious meeting of the Newberg School District, the board passed a new policy on staff political involvement on district time and using district resources. The board rescinded the motion 28 passed in August, which restricted the display of flags, including BLM and rainbow flags to pave the way for the passage of a policy on staff participation in political activities.
The two-page policy -- which was describe by board chair Brian Shannon as "uncontroversial" -- can be summed up as "No employee will use district facilities, equipment or supplies in connection with his/her political activities, nor will he/she use any time during the work day for such political activities."
The details of the policy are set out in a section entitled "Ensuring Safe Environments to Learn":
No district employee shall, while acting within the scope of their employment, either during school hours, or inside their physical area of responsibility at a school (such as a classroom, meeting room, desk area) hang, post, erect, or otherwise display ( hereafter “displayâ€) any posters, signs, flags, banners, pictures or other digital or physical image that depicts support or opposition relating to a political, quasipolitical, or controversial topic.
For purposes of this policy a controversial topic shall be defined as one that a professional educator could reasonably understand to have students on more than one side of said issue. For purposes of this policy a political or quasiâ€political topic includes
contemporary issues being debated in the local, state or national political climate.
Any person concerned with a particular Display should first notify the District employee believed to be responsible for the Display. Alternatively, the concerned person may file a complaint with a supervisor, school principal or the principal’s designee pursuant to District Policy.
The policy was approved by a vote of 4-3 with Directors Dave Brown, Brian Shannon, Renee Powell and Trevot DeHart voting yes and Directors Rebecca Piros, Inex Pena and Brandy Penner voting no.
