Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. Example video title will go here for this video. Amanda Boothby, a 2015 Newberg High School graduate, organized Tuesdays demonstration. [8], An elementary school employee of the district reported to work wearing blackface in "protest" of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The school board voted to ban Black Lives Matter and pride flags. 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.. They should be able to wear their shirts and signs that say Black Lives Matter and Asian Lives Matter and whatever else. [5], There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. PORTLAND, Ore. ( Portland Tribune) Newberg has been in the news a lot lately. No final order has been made. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The board voted to table that item during Tuesday's meeting. Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! I just cant stand for it., The lack of action prior to this did not demonstrate any harm. PORTLAND, Ore. ( Pamplin Media Group) The union that represents the nearly 300 teachers in the Newberg School District is heralding a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed the school. The Newberg Education Association argues the policy violates multiple sections of the Oregon and U.S. constitutions. This is my senior year, and this ban would change everything, how I feel about being there. Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. "Jozie Donaghey, Ashley McGowan, Newberg School District parent. ", "And I doubt that all four of you will even be here when the rebuilding really starts to happen," she said. The Newberg School District and four of its board members face a lawsuit over a policy banning political and quasi-political symbols. Brian Shannon, the Newberg School Boards vice chairman, introduced the measure over the summer. 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. 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. "Newberg Public Schools Contact Information", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Yamhill County, OR", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clackamas County, OR", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Washington County, OR", "Count of homeless students in Oregon school districts, 2008-2009", "The Newberg school board issue: How did we get here? They gathered at 4:15pm on Sept. 29 at the Newberg city centers flagpole where, fittingly, the citys major highway splits. For the kids that cant say anything now, I wanted to be that voice for them. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. NEWBERG, Ore. When the Newberg School District Board of Directors voted 4-3 to fire former Superintendent Joe Morelock without cause on Nov. 9, multiple dissenting board members. 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. The school boards symbols policy also drew sharp comments from the Oregon State Board of Education, Oregon House Democrats, and the Oregon School Boards Association. 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. Director Zone 2 "I protest that none of you had anything to say about why you wanted to do this, that the public is ," Piros said before she was interrupted by Brown. My daughter wears rainbow pajamas all the time, Shannon said. Cherice Boch (left) and her son Espen at a Newberg protest on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. 30 minutes have been allotted for public comments, with a two-minute limit per person. 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. State and local leaders across Oregon have spoken out against the actions of the board majority over the last few months. 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. On Thursday, Yamhill County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Easterday ruled that the policy is unconstitutional under Article 1, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of speech and the press. The discussion of the superintendent began after 10 p.m., over the objections of those in the minority. Penner responded: "You know exactly why, Rebecca. Pender said she doesn't know how the school district will handle the financial ramifications of the firing. Business meetings and work sessions are held at the Newberg School District Office, 714 East 6th Street, Newberg, Oregon. Those in favor did not explain their decision. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart, the school board members who voted for the policy, were named in a lawsuit on Nov. 3 levied against the Newberg School District and the four board members by the Newberg Education Association. 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 feels so draconian this feels so anti-everything," Penner said. NEWBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT | 714 E. 6TH ST. NEWBERG, OREGON 97132 | (503) 554-5000. Prior to the public meeting, the board met in executive session, away from the public. Maybe it's nothing to you as a white privileged male, but it's a really big deal to a lot of our community, a lot of our staff, and a lot of our students.. She made remarks to a group of sixty in opposition to the recent ban on controversial symbols and imagery. Renee Powell, one of the conservative members on the school board, said that the policy would improve the lives of students. In a first, House Democrats elected a Black leader. Attempts to gain comment from the author of the board policy amendment, Shannon, for his thoughts on the settlement were unsuccessful by press time Saturday. 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. There has been insufficient public comments, input, notification, and it is 10:30 at night on a school night, Penner said. The ban is complaint-based. 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. 408-472-4257, RonRilee School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. A conservative majority now exists on the Board, after the local group Save our Schools backed two successful bids for spots on the Board. Morelock determined it was a slogan for George Fox University and not a political symbol. Opponents of the ban, who have said the language specifically targeting groups of people was illegal, say the policy has helped embolden racists. The new dynamic has allowed the conservative board members to pass motions that the previous board neither permitted nor passed. The amended policy remains as a ban on all political or quasi-political signs displayed by teachers. Newberg Public Schools Board of Directors / YouTube. Thomas Crist, a Portland attorney who filed a friend of the court brief in the case on behalf of the plaintiffs, concurred with his cohort from the legal community. Four members of the school board voted to fire Supt. Shannon introduced in July the explicit ban in the classroom of political signs and flags, such as those with Pride and BLM symbols. The board discussion and vote to remove Morelock was tense. Piros concluded the meeting by addressing Morelock. At the start of the public meeting, the boards conservative 4-3 majority voted to add the superintendent discussion, seemingly based on what the board had talked about when they were behind closed doors. The NEA said the boards decision to ban political symbols was unwarranted and ill-conceived, hence the settlement. 503-476-2636, Shelley Kolb email:phillipss@newberg.k12.or.us, Address: 714 E. Sixth St,NewbergOR 97132-3406 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. 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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Director Zone 5 Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I wont be able to enforce it as it is until weve gone through a bunch of legal review, he said. "Know that your integrity has spurred us to be faithful servers to our children and we wish you well. An Oregon school district voted Tuesday to ban Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ and other "political" signs, flags and articles of clothing from their campuses. Related: Newberg school board officially approves policy banning political symbols. 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). Two of those board members were elected . The district will likely need an interim superintendent as the school year continues. To understand what theyre going through right now is so important, said Hetrick.Jozie Donaghey, Holly Hetrick, parent and childrens counselor, This is a no-brainer. The board's main job is to establish District policy. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. 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 board decided to table the decision to uphold or reject the districts response to the complaint, voting along the same 4-3 line as with most other decisions they made Tuesday. For Black boys, this isnt A Black man was dismembered. Please keep in mind that the school district is subject to Public Records laws. The sign featured a rainbow, a heart, and the words "Be Known." 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Take action today! "Anti-free speech, anti-free expression, anti-safety. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [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).