A resident of Dundee submitted the complaint Sept. 30, saying the sign amounted to a gay pride poster and should be removed immediately. case filed last year by a Newberg teacher, initial board conversations about the policy, celebrated the ruling in a tweet Thursday, the school board voted to fire Supt. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 Screenshot taken from YouTube. 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. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. All meetings are open to the public, except for executive sessions as authorized by law. No final order has been made. 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 news got the attention of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who visited with Newberg advocates while she was on vacation. The district will likely need an interim superintendent as the school year continues. Making it easier for Black people to vote had unexpected consequences, Latinos who use Spanish-language social media get more misinformation, How public colleges have already backed away from affirmative action. Man shot by Salem police officer was person of interest in police car shootings, 'I am sorry': Shemia Fagan ends consulting side job with cannabis company, Portland temperatures soaring after weeks of near-record rainfall, Newberg teachers union sues over 'political images' ban in schools, Newberg school board votes to ban teachers from displaying BLM, Pride symbols in classrooms, Dozens in Newberg rally against hate amid ban on political signs. 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). This is not a functioning business meeting, Penner said. Just remember that from the darkest dark, comes the brightest light. Mailing Address for the Board 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. We're going to lose so much from this action. The case, filed by the ACLU of Oregon on behalf of Newberg school employee Chelsea Shotts in December 2021, challenges a policy approved by the school board last year. Its just common sense to me.. ", Penner said the move to fire Morelock would have "rippling effects for months and years to come. 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. 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. During the meeting, staff members visibly shook their heads and teared up. Since the board meeting, elected officials around Oregon have responded to the firing with anger and concern for the districts future. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. 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. 503-476-2636, Shelley Kolb 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.". Board members serve four-year terms without pay. Phone: (503) 554-5000, Fax: (503) 538-4374. Two of those board members were elected . I will do everything in my power to create an environment that makes all students feel safe and supported so they can learn and thrive, Shotts said. The Snapchat group sometimes specifically targets Black students. 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 4-3 vote, the Newberg school board decided to terminate the district's superintendent, Joe Morelock, during a meeting . Director Zone 4 The ACLU celebrated the ruling in a tweet Thursday, saying they await the courts final order. 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. These counter-protesters noted they simply wanted to voice their support for the ban. 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 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.". The board will later decide what counts as "political," but Pride flags and BLM messages were repeatedly referenced during the meeting. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. The. Be a part of it! IE 11 is not supported. They gathered at 4:15pm on Sept. 29 at the Newberg city centers flagpole where, fittingly, the citys major highway splits. NEWBERG, Ore. Newberg School District board member Ines Pea has resigned her position. 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. The appointee serves until June of the next election year, which in this case is 2023. Under new business, we are discussing the superintendent, said board chair Dave Brown. 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. The union claims that the district policy violates state and federal constitution. "Just remember that from the darkest dark comes the brightest light. Today we are here because the School Board has to right a wrongthey must repeal this bad policythey must do it tonight. These strong words were amplified through a bullhorn by Newberg Teachers Union president Jen Schnieder. 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. Why would you remove something that wasnt harmful but is going to cause harm?, Roland Herrera, a Keizer City Council member, says he attended the Newberg protest against the political ban in the school district to support his neighbors. "Know that your integrity has spurred us to be faithful servers to our children and we wish you well. "Anti-free speech, anti-free expression, anti-safety.". These symbols arent hurting anyone and I dont see why banning them is necessary., Siblings Charlie (left) and Sophia Gates attended to protest because as Black students they say their voices are being silenced. But the board voted, again 4 to 3, to keep paying the attorney. The decision in suburban Portland follows a pair of recent racist incidents at Newberg Public Schools. A sign depicting a rainbow flag with a heart superimposed, along with the words Be Known, in Shotts classroom window at Dundee Elementary was the subject of the first complaint under the policy. It supports all the steps we have taken to fight the policy change. 503-887-6447, Raquel Peregrino de Brito Their place is to teach the approved curriculum, and thats all this policy does, is ensure thats happening in our schools.. 1:09. My mom, in the 50s and 60s, fought for Black rights. In Newberg, four of the seven board members voted to fire Morelock, who was under contract through June 2024. School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: https://bit.ly/3MULBka For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. We are very disappointed in this decision.". 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. In a statement released Tuesday night, district administrators at Newberg Public Schools lauded Morelock for his successes: A bilingual English and Spanish speaker, Dr. Morelock became Interim Superintendent for the 2018-2019 school year, with the district in significant financial difficulty after having to lay off staff. Numerous school and district administrators also have resigned from the district. [5], There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. Its just such a bold statement to make. Its clear their personal politics are stronger than any real desire to come together as a school community, the group said on Facebook. She said her daughter cried when she told her. ", "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. Four members of the school board voted to fire Supt. [2] Portions are in Clackamas County and Washington County. School Board Meetings The Newberg Education Association argues the policy violates multiple sections of the Oregon and U.S. constitutions. 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. Board Vice-Chair, Director Zone 7 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. Symbols of hate and symbols of love do not go together, and they never shouldve been lumped together in the first place., Ashley Pea, a Newberg student, said she came to the protest because the school board didnt listen to enough students before making their decision on Aug. 10. Newberg Public Schools Board of Directors / YouTube. If you were in my position and someone took your love and support and identity away how would you feel? The lawsuit was filed in August 2021 on behalf of four teachers and counselors: Jennifer Schneider, Andrew Gallagher, Katherine Villalobos and Sara Linnertz. The board's four conservative members, David Brown, Brian Shannon, Renee Powell and Trevor DeHart, voted at the start of Tuesday's board meeting to add the resolution to the 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. "That was her first reaction, grief," Pender said. The initial board conversations about the policy centered around banning Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ Pride flags. Pefferle was fired over the blackface incident, according to the Newberg Graphic. Piros concluded the meeting by addressing Morelock. 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. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. Penner and Piros spoke out against the resolution and the board's four members who were in support of it. Smith, the lawyer, continued his involvement in the board meeting, directing Brown of the language to use in moving to terminate Morelocks employment. If you could say something to the school board members making these decisions, what would you say? Defendants and their agents acted under color or authority of state law, the lawsuit continued. As pressure mounted, the four conservative members voted to hire a. The complainant appealed the decision. Board members said they did not receive the documents until the executive session that evening. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Morelock, who was silent up to that point during the discussion of the resolution, answered. I continue to stand with parents, students of color, LGBTQ students, and all members of the community who have courageously continued to speak out against the school boards unacceptable actions.. That means the board cant enforce the policy against Shotts or, for that matter, anyone else. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. Since the school board approved the policy in September 2021, tension and conflict has continued among school board members, district employees and those in the Newberg community. Board Chair, Director Zone 6 In a first, House Democrats elected a Black leader. 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. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. Newberg School District (29J) is a public school district headquartered in Newberg in the U.S. state of Oregon. 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.