Meetings and Agendas Policies Programs and Services Student Success Act School Board Internal Staff Directory Strategic Plan Superintendent; Schools Welcome to our schools. Amanda Boothby, a 2015 Newberg High School graduate, organized Tuesdays demonstration. On that agenda: consulting with lawyers and discussing employee dismissals or disciplinary matters. 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. The lawsuit was filed in August 2021 on behalf of four teachers and counselors: Jennifer Schneider, Andrew Gallagher, Katherine Villalobos and Sara Linnertz. Those in favor did not explain their decision. Newberg School Board voted 4 to 3 on November 9 to remove Dr. Joe Morelock as superintendent without cause. 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. What brought you out tonight to the protest? She made remarks to a group of sixty in opposition to the recent ban on controversial symbols and imagery. 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. "Just remember that from the darkest dark comes the brightest light. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. We asked a few of the attendees why they turned out. In one of them, a staff member showed up for work in blackface in an apparent protest of the districts coronavirus vaccine mandate for employees and was subsequently fired. Director Zone 5 "My child is LGBTQ and so now I'm out here fighting for their rights and their voice. This is my senior year, and this ban would change everything, how I feel about being there. Shannon introduced in July the explicit ban in the classroom of political signs and flags, such as those with Pride and BLM symbols. 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.". Shame on our school district for making decisions about these kids lives as if they really cared. NEWBERG, Ore. A Yamhill County Circuit Court judge has ruled that the Newberg School District's ban on some symbols, including Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, is unconstitutional, the. That does make me a defiant outlier in the face of this board. Pefferle was fired over the blackface incident, according to the Newberg Graphic. 'Deal with it:' Newberg school board's conservative majority defends The school board voted to ban Black Lives Matter and pride flags. Published: Jan. 18, 2022, 8:41 p.m. An initial attempt by the Newberg school board to ban Black Lives Matter and Pride imagery was met with widespread protests in the city. Newberg school board rescinds political sign ban, settles lawsuit | kgw.com The ban is complaint-based. ACLU sues Newberg school district, the latest of multiple lawsuits The apparel rule would only apply to staff while they are working. Everything You Need to Know About the Newberg School Board Lawsuits Director Zone 3 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. It's done, Rebecca," he said. He referred to a packet given to board members in executive session, but not shared publicly, that had to do with Morelock. I wanna ask why? Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. However, this topic will be on the minds and tongues of many in Newberg and its greater community for some time. Never mind that the Newberg School Board has made two significant decisions in the last month without involving many (or any?) The settlement, according to a release from the Newberg Education Association, accomplished three things, primarily that the school board will not appeal the lower courts ruling that the ban be lifted; that the board will either add language to GBG recognizing the lower courts ruling or rescind the amendment entirely, which the board did at its Jan. 10 meeting; and that the board reimburse the union for a significant portion of the legal fees incurred from fighting this illegal amendment, the release said. The discussion of the superintendent began after 10 p.m., over the objections of those in the minority. Oregon school board votes to ban Black Lives Matter, Pride signs from "I have no idea, financially, how our school district will recover from this. She pointed at the opposition: We dont have a problem with them here, but they dont even let us get near them. As a family with BLM and Pride signs passed by the small contingent of conservatives, a Black father shouted, Black Lives Matter doesnt represent me. He and his son brought out a banner that read, #All Lives Matter.. 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. 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.. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the district policy prohibiting plaintiff association members from hanging, posting, erecting or otherwise displaying any posters, signs, flags, banners, pictures or other digital or physical image that depicts support of opposition relation to a policy, quasi-political or controversial topic, violates plaintiffs guarantees under Article 1, Section 20 of the Oregon Constitution against vague laws that confer unbridled discretion, because such discretion creates the potential for unequal application of the law, and thus arbitrary or unequal treatment of individuals, the filing said. And those are my kids. Directors say they need more information before choosing; next round of interviews set for May 5. ", "And I doubt that all four of you will even be here when the rebuilding really starts to happen," she said. Morelock, who was silent up to that point during the discussion of the resolution, answered. Every student belongs in school, every student deserves to learn in a welcoming, and safe environment.". "Our children should not bear the brunt end of partisan politics meant to further divide. 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. In a first, House Democrats elected a Black leader. Cherice Boch (left) and her son Espen at a Newberg protest on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. It is exclusive to this particular case, though, and doesnt apply to the other lawsuits that have been filed against the district and the school board, of which there are many. ", "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. 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. Its just such a bold statement to make. [1], It is mostly in Yamhill County, where it serves the cities of Newberg and Dundee. Appointed in 2022 - Term expires 6/30/23 These are their words, edited for brevity and clarity, (From left to right) Amanda Boothby, Morgaine Terry, Abbee Mortensen and Emily Labahn at the Newberg protest on Tuesday night. "These symbols arent hurting anyone and I dont see why banning them is necessary," said Pea. Gunn then appealed Morelock's decision to the school board. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. This has been the shadiest, shadiest process ever and unfortunately, it is our children who will have to pay for this. I wont be able to enforce it as it is until weve gone through a bunch of legal review, he said. NEA settles lawsuit against Newberg OR School District, board 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. Director Zone 1 About 100 protesters gathered in downtown Newberg on Tuesday, weeks after a new conservative school board majority voted to ban staff and faculty from displaying Pride and Black Lives Matter banners in their buildings. Oregon's Newberg School Board bans Pride, Black Lives Matter symbols in The move elicited suspicion by the three minority members of the . Under the Public Records laws any record (e.g. 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. Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! A conservative majority now exists on the Board, after the local group Save our Schools backed two successful bids for spots on the Board. We tabled a motion on if were going to figure out if a rainbow sign is political or not, because people didnt have enough time to review the packet that they had for four or five days, Penner said. 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,. Board . 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. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. Pender said when Morelock was hired, she felt like there was hope for the first time that the school district was headed in a better direction. Please keep in mind that the school district is subject to Public Records laws. They knew or should have known that their actions were unlawful under both the Oregon and federal constitutions., The lawsuit also alleged that the school board violated teachers 14th Amendment rights to due process and equal protection by adopting a directive that is vague and overbroad in its scope, leaving association members without guidance as to what speech is prohibited and potentially a violation of district policy leading to potential discipline by the district and/or or their licensing through the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.. This motion was not allowed to go to vote. 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. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. Oregon school board ban on anti-racist, LGBT signs draws ire 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. Morelocks employment ends in 10 days, and the next school board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 23. 971-409-5792, Dave Brown 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.". If you could say something to the school board members making these decisions, what would you say? Is Wakanda Forever too woke for Marvels own good? Our human rights arent political, period. The lawsuit named the school district as well as Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart as defendants. ACLU sues Newberg school district, the latest of multiple lawsuits 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. We will be losing a leader who has pulled us out of financial ruin, who has rebuilt community, who has rebuilt relationships, she said. "Anti-free speech, anti-free expression, anti-safety. The ACLU of Oregon and law firm Davis Wright Tremaine argued that the ban violates the Oregon Constitution. The board voted to adjourn the meeting, but not before Piros addressed Morelock. The employee was terminated from her position. Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. 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.
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