Penner pointed out the juxtaposition in the board majority pushing to make a decision on Morelock while putting off a decision on the rainbow sign. The community blowback led the Newberg School Board to alter the language of the ban on Sept. 1, removing the specific mentions of Pride and BLM. "This feels so draconian this feels so anti-everything," one board member said. Trevor DeHart These demonstrations have been coordinated by a group called Newberg Rejects White Supremacy, which can be found through the Instagram handle, @newbergrejectswhitesupremacy. It argued that the boards ban introduced as an amendment to board policy GBG in July 2021 by vice-chairman Brian Shannon and approved by chairman Dave Brown and directors Renee Powell and Trevor DeHart was so vague and overbroad it could impact teachers abilities to work in the district. 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. 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.. And those are my kids. 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. Wheres your sense of community?, If theres anyone out there hurting Im here for them, I love them and I see them., Ashley McGowan, a Newberg School District parent, says she came out to the protest because fighting for equal rights runs in her family. I tell people you can pretend to care but you cant pretend to show up. They gathered at 4:15pm on Sept. 29 at the Newberg city centers flagpole where, fittingly, the citys major highway splits. The policy initially explicitly banned Pride and BLM symbols in all district buildings, but it was amended to broaden the language following a public outcry and concerns surrounding potential litigation. On Wednesday morning, KGW spoke to Heidi Pender, whose daughter is a freshman at Newberg High School. The decision in suburban Portland follows a pair of recent racist incidents at Newberg Public Schools. 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. This is my senior year, and this ban will change everything.Jozie Donaghey, I came out tonight because I dont agree with the school board decision in banning our flags because I dont think theyre controversial. This ban was the first big item on the newly conservative Boards agenda. 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. They should be able to wear their shirts and signs that say Black Lives Matter and Asian Lives Matter and whatever else. The ruling validates our claims and assertions, the NEA release said. The board's main job is to establish District policy. They expressed their support for Morelock, saying he guided the school district through a financial crisis and rebuilt relationships in the community. DISCLAIMER for All Communications with District Staff and Board Members: The Board believes that community participation in school affairs is essential if the school district and the community are to maintain mutual confidence and respect and work together to improve the quality of education for students. Think about the lives it will really affect. 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. If youre shopping for a new purse, check out these luxurious bags that look quite high-end, but cost less than $100. Kate Brown (D) announced last month that all teachers, staff and volunteers in the states public schools had to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. Its clear their personal politics are stronger than any real desire to come together as a school community, the group said on Facebook. The Board hires the superintendent, who is responsible to carry out Board policies, provide educational leadership and manage the District's budget and staff. 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. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 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. But the board voted, again 4 to 3, to keep paying the attorney. There is no point in a federal judge striking down something that a state judge already had.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Time is set aside at the business meeting for public comment. The Newberg School Board usually meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Forms will also be available at the regular session board meetings. If you could say something to the school board members making these decisions, what would you say? At the end of the meeting, the resolution to fire Morelock passed, 4-3, with Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart voting in favor. 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. Im an elected official and I support my neighbors. In response to the reoccurring demonstrations against the School Board's decision, a group of counter-protesters who support the School Board's decision stood on the southeast side of the intersection. The district will likely need an interim superintendent as the school year continues. Board . Why dont they? This has been the shadiest, shadiest process ever and unfortunately, it is our children who will have to pay for this. Shotts asked the court to declare that the boards policy was unconstitutional and the court agreed, at least with respect to the free speech guarantee in Article I, Section 8, Crist said in an earlier story. We're going to lose so much from this action. Climate Conference in Glasgow, connecting Newberg with trouble and conflict facing school boards across the country. The resolution outlining the no-cause firing was not included in the board packet for Tuesday's 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. VIDEO:School board fires Newberg School District superintendent. 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.". Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He didnt rush to do something he felt was illegal; he was protecting the school district from our rashness, and that is what a CEO does, he sees the big, big picture, Piros said. The three board members who did not vote for the policy banning controversial or political symbols resigned over the course of the last year, alleging harassment. 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. This was the argument voiced by those who arrived on Oct. 1 not associated with Newberg Rejects White Supremacy Rally. The Oregonian cited Morelock's contract, which the newspaper obtained through a public records request. 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. The Newberg School Board's choice to ban BLM and Pride flags came following a shift in the Board's composition. 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. The employee was terminated from her position. The decision comes a few months after a judge sided. 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. [5], There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. 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. This article was published more than1 year ago. How could you do that to someone else? 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. We wish you well, were so sorry, she said. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. Superintendent: Dr. Stephen Phillips The Yamhill County Circuit Court has made a decision in a case filed last year by a Newberg teacher against the school district and four members of the school board. Brian Shannon, the Newberg School Boards vice chairman, introduced the measure over the summer. The policy limiting the kinds of images or signs school employees can display on campus originally began as a ban passed by the school board in August of LGBTQIA+ and Black Lives Matters flags. The conservative majority on the school board in Newberg voted 4 to 3 to adopt a policy that has attracted national attention, criticism and protests in the weeks since it was introduced. But Brown added two new items, including one about Morelock. Board Vice-Chair, Director Zone 7 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. 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 ACLU of Oregon and law firm Davis Wright Tremaine argued that the ban violates the Oregon Constitution. (If you do NOT receive a confirmation receipt for your public comment request, please reach out to Tabitha directly at 503.554.5041). We could have upheld the Newberg traditions of the past and collaborated together as a united team.. Board member Brandy Penner said she had endured an abusive and disrespectful work environment on the board, and said the board had violated public meeting laws. School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: https://bit.ly/3MULBka For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. Opponents of the ban, who have said the language specifically targeting groups of people was illegal, say the policy has helped embolden racists. Its just such a bold statement to make. 714 East 6th St On Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, who is the Chair of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, released the following statement about the firing of Morelock: The action of the Newberg School Board in firing Superintendent Joe Morelock is wrong for students, wrong for educators, and wrong for the Newberg community. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. The school board initially voted on Aug. 10 to ban those specific symbols in the classroom. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. 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.". 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). All rights reserved (About Us). One is expected soon. Newberg School District 29J "My child is LGBTQ and so now I'm out here fighting for their rights and their voice. Take action today! (KATU) NEWBERG, Ore. Voters in the Newberg Schools community are turning out in big numbers for the hotly debated recall of two school board members. State Rep. Ricki Ruiz said he was "disappointed by the actions taken from Newberg School Directors to ban pride and BLM flags from schools, and their attempts to roll back on anti-racist school policies such as the Every Student Belongs policy. Ashley Pea, a Newberg student, said she came to the protest because the school board didn't listen to enough students before making their decision on Aug. 10. [9], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}451735.56N 1225840.39W / 45.2932111N 122.9778861W / 45.2932111; -122.9778861 (Newberg School District office). The Newberg Education Association argues the policy violates multiple sections of the Oregon and U.S. constitutions. 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. Morelock had been superintendent for two years and was under contract through June. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. PORTLAND, Ore. ( Portland Tribune) Newberg has been in the news a lot lately. She said her daughter, who is Black, asks almost every day about other options for her education. Find Your . In a first, House Democrats elected a Black leader. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 "I'm baffled why you feel this needed to be done and why you feel it needed to be done tonight," Piros said. 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. About 100 people turned out to protest the Newberg school board's decision to ban Pride and Black Lives Matter symbols.
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