The board also voted Tuesday on whether to retain lawyer Tyler Smith, an outside attorney they initially hired at the end of August. But the board voted, again 4 to 3, to keep paying the attorney. NEWBERG, Ore. (KOIN) The Newberg Education Association is suing the Newberg School District after the. Forms will also be available at the regular session board meetings. A conservative majority now exists on the Board, after the local group "Save our Schools . As an elected official you want to listen to understand their perspective and put yourself in the shoes of a gay person or trans person. It supports all the steps we have taken to fight the policy change. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Thats not their place, Shannon said. Pamplin Media Group is a KOIN 6 News media partner. 503-887-6447, Raquel Peregrino de Brito We will be losing a leader who has pulled us out of financial ruin, who has rebuilt community, who has rebuilt relationships, she said. "We will be paying for two superintendents," Penner said during the meeting. Im an elected official and I support my neighbors. Never mind that the Newberg School Board has made two significant decisions in the last month without involving many (or any?) Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. Shotts, a special education teacher in a Newberg elementary school, filed the lawsuit with the aid of the American Civil Liberties Union and a Portland law firm in late 2021, challenging the boards policy restricting political, quasi-political or controversial displays, including Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ flags. Find Your . Morelocks employment ends in 10 days, and the next school board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 23. Newberg School Board Public Comment Sheet- Intent to Speak, May 2nd, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - Budget Committee Mtg. Were going to move forward.. Both the school principal and Morelock dismissed the complaint, saying the sign and its message are not political, quasi-political, or controversial. [1], It is mostly in Yamhill County, where it serves the cities of Newberg and Dundee. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. PORTLAND, Ore. ( Portland Tribune) Newberg has been in the news a lot lately. Director Zone 2 The lawsuit further argued that prohibiting teachers from displaying signs in their classrooms was a violation of their rights of free speech and free association guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. All meetings are open to the public, except for executive sessions as authorized by law. At a demonstration Sunday, BLM supporters protesting the school boards policy clashed with some members of the Proud Boys, a far-right group that has endorsed violence, according to the Portland Tribune. Opponents of the ban, who have said the language specifically targeting groups of people was illegal, say the policy has helped embolden racists. Those in favor did not explain their decision. 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.". But the motion to adjourn the meeting was voted down, 4-3, with Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart voting to move forward. Contacting a School Board Member The quality of some of the stories that we heard should count more than just the number of emails that we received, said Pea, who was wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and rainbow headband during the virtual meeting. On behalf of Dr. Morelock and the work he has begun, we will continue to fight for safe, stable learning environments for our students. Four members of the school board voted to fire Supt. We're so sorry. 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. The board enacted contentious policies over the past year, including a ban on teachers displaying pride and Black Lives Matter displays on campuses which was later expanded to all political displays after legal concerns and abruptly firing former Newberg superintendent Joe Morelock without cause. ", "Policies such as ESB are in place to ensure students feel welcome and safe while learning," he said. He looked in people's faces and knew what impact his decisions would have.". The Newberg School District board has hired Stephen Phillips to serve as the district's next leader. Board members Brandy Penner and Rebecca Piros, both in the boards three-member minority, said the sign was not political, especially coming from George Fox, a private Christian university in Newberg. Renee Powell, one of the conservative members on the school board, said that the policy would improve the lives of students. At least one student at Newberg High School has been linked to a Snapchat group called Slave Trade, the Graphic reported, where teenagers nationwide share racist, homophobic and violent messages. "This feels so draconian this feels so anti-everything," one board member said. The settlement, rendered in December, means the court case will not go forward. What the district has done is unacceptable. Why did you organize it? Prior to the public meeting, the board met in executive session, away from the public. Its just common sense to me.. Our human rights arent political, period. A pair of petitions to recall Newberg school board vice chair Brian Shannon and board chair Dave Brown have each officially obtained enough signatures to qualify for a vote next month, Yamhill . 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. Other groups including the Newberg Education Association, Oregon Education Association, and Basic Rights Oregon, as well as the BIPOC Caucus of the State Legislature have expressed concern and disapproval with this problematic ban. Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! This is not a functioning business meeting, Penner said. The move elicited suspicion by the three minority members of the . Board chair Dave Brown did not reply to a request for comment. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. Just remember that from the darkest dark, comes the brightest light. 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. The conditions of his hiring are the basis of a lawsuit against the school board, according to the Newberg Graphic. ", "Oregon school board drops ban on LGBTQ pride, Black Lives Matter and other symbols", "Oregon school worker suspended for showing up in blackface in apparent protest of vaccine mandate", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Newberg_School_District&oldid=1134844881, This page was last edited on 21 January 2023, at 00:40. The ACLU has threatened to sue if the ban remains on the books, and its not clear how this new bans legalese will affect its prosecution. Electedin 2019 "This is going to set our district back decades. Please keep in mind that the school district is subject to Public Records laws. They cant discipline her or them for putting up a poster in violation of the policy.. Under his leadership, new contracts with our associations brought better pay to teachers and staff, more educational school days for our students, a stabilized financial situation with a safety net of over $9 million in the ending fund balance, and the passage of the largest Construction Bond in the history of Newberg Public Schools. The remaining board members have been involved in multiple lawsuits. The sequence of events documented in the lawsuit matches the sequence outlined in an agenda summary ahead of the board's Nov. 9 meeting, in which the board was scheduled to hold a public hearing to consider whether to overturn Morelock's decision. Pefferle was fired over the blackface incident, according to the Newberg Graphic. Schneider and other members who oppose the ban believe the flags provide a source of safety and security to underrepresented and vulnerable students. If the school board had rescinded the policy back in August 2021, when we along with our Newberg community, spoke out publicly against the changes, and then again when we directly addressed the board on the matter warning them we would be forced to pursue legal action and finally when we served them with a tort claims notice, we could have saved hours of legal preparation and public funds, it said in the release. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. Time is set aside at the business meeting for public comment. Im so in awe at how many people are here because my experience wasnt the best so seeing everyone so gung-ho about it is heartwarming.. email:phillipss@newberg.k12.or.us, Address: 714 E. Sixth St,NewbergOR 97132-3406 For Black boys, this isnt A Black man was dismembered. Director Zone 5 Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Robert Till, who is gay and a sophomore at Newberg High School, told the Associated Press that he is embarrassed to live in the city because of the ban. BREAKING: This morning, the Yamhill County Circuit Court concluded that Newberg School District's anti-display policy violates Article I, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution. Numerous school and district administrators also have resigned from the district. ", "And I doubt that all four of you will even be here when the rebuilding really starts to happen," she said. 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. With their continued attack on symbols of support for Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride, the school board is on a dangerous and harmful path. Board Vice-Chair, Director Zone 7 They were represented by Karen OCasey of the Portland law firm Hart Wanger. The discussion of the superintendent began after 10 p.m., over the objections of those in the minority. Piros asked her colleagues to take more time before going forward with the major, unannounced decision. "You're a bigger man than I am," Piros said and started to cry, as Penner put her hand over her mouth. 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). The judge ruled Thursday that a policy banning certain symbols displayed in schools is unconstitutional. Think about the students before your own opinions., Parent and local counselor Holly Hetrick says she attended the protest to show support for all her middle school and high school clients, her LGBTQ children and their friends. Shame on our school district for making decisions about these kids lives as if they really cared. The union claims that the district policy violates state and federal constitution. NEWBERG Two members of the Newberg School Board announced their resignations at a meeting earlier this week, citing controversial board decisions in the past year. Love is love, everybody has the right to choose. The Newberg Education Association, a union representing 280 educators and staff in the district, wrote in a statement that it is extremely disappointed over the decision from the conservative majority. This motion was not allowed to go to vote. Dont wait. There is no point in a federal judge striking down something that a state judge already had.. Director Zone 4 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. We can continue to create safe spaces in our schools and offer support to students who identity as LGBTQIA+ and students of color without fear of retaliation.. The news got the attention of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who visited with Newberg advocates while she was on vacation. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. And I feel like thats not being heard. The school board initially voted on Aug. 10 to ban those specific symbols in the classroom. And those are my kids. This means ensuring school boards are held accountable; that there is access to training around educational equity and governance that is action-oriented for leaders; securing students a say and a voice at the policy-making table; and making sure superintendents jobs are protected when they are simply following the law, according to the statement. NEWBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT|714 E. 6TH ST. NEWBERG, OREGON 97132|(503) 554-5000. Comments submitted via email, that are intended to be read aloud by the superintendent (or designee), need to be sent to publiccomment@newberg.k12.or.us no later than 4:00 pm the Monday prior to regular session. Business meetings and work sessions are held at the Newberg School District Office, 714 East 6th Street, Newberg, Oregon. It's done, Rebecca," he said. 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. Shannon introduced in July the explicit ban in the classroom of political signs and flags, such as those with Pride and BLM symbols. School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. [3][4], In the 2009 school year, the district had 156 students classified as homeless by the Department of Education, or 3.0% of students in the district. The Newberg School Board voted to terminate the contract of Superintendent Joe Morelock late Tuesday night, in a process that board director Brandy Penner, who voted against the firing,. A conservative majority now exists on the Board, after the local group Save our Schools backed two successful bids for spots on the Board. Amanda Boothby, a 2015 Newberg High School graduate, organized Tuesdays demonstration. 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.
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