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. Neither the school board nor Newberg Public Schools Superintendent Joe Morelock immediately responded to requests for comment early Wednesday. 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. "Just remember that from the darkest dark comes the brightest light. How could you do that to someone else? If you were in my position and someone took your love and support and identity away how would you feel? [7] This ban ended in 2023. The board also voted Tuesday on whether to retain lawyer Tyler Smith, an outside attorney they initially hired at the end of August. The initial board conversations about the policy centered around banning Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ Pride flags. The board is also expected to discuss challenging the state's mask mandate at their next meeting. The school board initially voted on Aug. 10 to ban those specific symbols in the classroom. Other lawsuits I wish the entire board would join us in these efforts.. 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 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,. They will be losing resources out of their classrooms. After voicing strong objection to the move, the board's other three members, Rebecca Piros, Brandy Penner and Ines Pea, voted against. [5], There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. "Jozie Donaghey, Ashley McGowan, Newberg School District parent. Were trying so hard just to be equal and be heard. I just cant stand for it., The lack of action prior to this did not demonstrate any harm. Tue, January 18th 2022, 2:18 PM PST. 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. 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.". 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. Citizens are encouraged to express their ideas, concerns and judgments through communication with District staff and Board members. 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. The Newberg teachers union said the firing was another example of a board majority bringing instability to the districts schools. Board vacancies are filled through appointments made by a majority vote of the remaining board members, according to district policy. Be a part of it! 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 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. At the time the complaint was filed, Shotts said both she, as a queer staff member, and students should be safe and supported. And Im just very disappointed in this decision., Thanks Rebecca, Morelock told her. Prior to the public meeting, the board met in executive session, away from the public. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He has been key in the transformation of a struggling district. 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.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Dont wait. After the vote to remove Morelock, Penner and Piros spoke emotionally about his impact on the district, and the board majoritys lack of reasoning given for firing Morelock. Our human rights arent political, period. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. But the board voted, again 4 to 3, to keep paying the attorney. Shannon and Smith, the lawyer, both interjected to remind Brown that he could not deny the motion to wait, but then the motion failed anyway. The appointee serves until June of the next election year, which in this case is 2023. 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. By almost every metric, the assertion that the board currently supports all parents' rights is untrue. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. The four conservative members of the board voted, 4-3, to fire Superintendent Joe Morelock at the end of Tuesday night's school board meeting. 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. Brian Shannon, the Newberg School Boards vice chairman, introduced the measure over the summer. Public comments are scheduled for regular session board meetings only. Pefferle was fired over the blackface incident, according to the Newberg Graphic. Because they're cowards and they know they're going to get sued. Following the vote, Piros spoke again, addressing the four board members who voted to fire Morelock. "He made sure he was in schools every week with kids interacting," she said. 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. Protesters gathered at the city flagpole on South River Street in Newberg to speak out against the school boards decision, which passed after the board heard less than half of public comments during the virtual session. The news got the attention of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who visited with Newberg advocates while she was on vacation. Late Tuesday night, the Newberg Education Association released a statement on the firing of Morelock: During tonights school board meeting, the 4 board majority fired Superintendent Joe Morelock for no cause. For months, the Newberg School District has been making headlines, while its school board mulls a. Boothby says she organized the protest because when she attended Newberg High School she didnt always feel welcome as a gay student. In the matter of three months, four people have completely destroyed that.. The Newberg School Board usually meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Defendants and their agents acted under color or authority of state law, the lawsuit continued. 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. Responding to Morelocks termination, Oregon House Democrats said theyll take action on Newberg in the next legislative session. VIDEO:School board fires Newberg School District superintendent. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 Related: Newberg school board officially approves policy banning political symbols. Board . Pender said she doesn't know how the school district will handle the financial ramifications of the firing. 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 Newberg School Board is responsible for providing a quality educational program for about 5,000 District students. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. They expressed their support for Morelock, saying he guided the school district through a financial crisis and rebuilt relationships in the community. The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against the Newberg School District and four members of the district's board of directors, challenging the district's . 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. 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.. When the conservative majority of the Newberg school board voted in early November to oust the district's superintendent, board chairman Dave Brown advocated for an accelerated process to name Joe Morelock's successor by January. "I feel like this is the nail in the coffin as far as her desire to stay and keep making change here," she said. You know exactly why," she said. 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. ", Penner said the move to fire Morelock would have "rippling effects for months and years to come. Contacting a School Board Member NEWBERG, Ore. Newberg School District board member Ines Pea has resigned her position. Shannon introduced in July the explicit ban in the classroom of political signs and flags, such as those with Pride and BLM symbols. Think about the lives it will really affect. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. We will be losing a leader who has pulled us out of financial ruin, who has rebuilt community, who has rebuilt relationships, she said. 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. The specific dates can be found here. The Newberg School District board has hired Stephen Phillips to serve as the district's next leader. What brought you out tonight to the protest? Board members said they did not receive the documents until the executive session that evening. Before the resolution was brought forward, Penner, Piros and Pena attempted to stop it and adjourn the meeting. This motion was not allowed to go to vote. In late September, the ban was amended following concerns about its legality after the ACLU threatened to sue the school board if it did not reconsider the policy. 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. The boards decision comes at a time when Newberg, a city of 25,000 in Oregons wine country, has been embroiled in state and national culture wars over free speech, racism and vaccinations. The initial vote drew immediate backlash from community members, sparking peaceful protests from the LGBTQ and Black communities. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. (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. 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. Aruna Masih, the attorney from Portland law firm Bennett Hartman who was representing the NEA and the four teachers/counselors, said she couldnt comment on the particulars of the case, but speaking in general terms said that once two parties reach an agreement on resolution of a case, called a stipulated notice of dismissal, the court typically accepts the notice and dismisses the case. 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. "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. 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. Schneider and other members who oppose the ban believe the flags provide a source of safety and security to underrepresented and vulnerable students. The decision in suburban Portland follows a pair of recent racist incidents at Newberg Public Schools. 1:09. The split between the boards majority and minority was clear, with members in the majority remaining quiet, and minority members repeatedly objecting to the speed of the conversation and pointing out the cost, financial and otherwise, of losing Morelock. In Newberg, four of the seven board members voted to fire Morelock, who was under contract through June 2024. NEWBERG, Ore. (KOIN) The Newberg Education Association is suing the Newberg School District after the. One is expected soon. Led by the superintendent, their goal was to review this situation over a period of six weeks in order to come to a determination about how to move forward. The new dynamic has allowed the conservative board members to pass motions that the previous board neither permitted nor passed. 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. The board voted to adjourn the meeting, but not before Piros addressed Morelock. Electedin 2019 Both the school principal and Morelock dismissed the complaint, saying the sign and its message are not political, quasi-political, or controversial. Opponents of the ban, who have said the language specifically targeting groups of people was illegal, say the policy has helped embolden racists. 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 complainant appealed the decision. 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. We're so sorry. Four members of the school board voted to fire Supt. 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. The settlement, rendered in December, means the court case will not go forward. 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 ban was the first big item on the newly conservative Boards agenda. At the end of the meeting, the resolution to fire Morelock passed, 4-3, with Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart voting in favor. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. Just remember that from the darkest dark, comes the brightest light. We wish you well, were so sorry, she said. The NEA said the boards decision to ban political symbols was unwarranted and ill-conceived, hence the settlement. Those in favor did not explain their decision. They filed a lawsuit against the school district and the four board members who voted for the policy chair Dave Brown, vice chair Brian Shannon, Renee Powell and Trevor DeHart. Board member Ines Pea also pointed out that students weren't given enough of a say in the decision, even though they and their parents have shared stories detailing discrimination and feeling unsafe. 971-385-2880, Tabitha Renne 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. "That was her first reaction, grief," Pender said. In a 4-3 vote, the Newberg school board decided to terminate the district's superintendent, Joe Morelock, during a meeting . The board's main job is to establish District policy. This move is yet another example of a board majority bringing instability to our schools. The lawsuit named the school district as well as Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart as defendants. Amanda Boothby, a 2015 Newberg High School graduate, organized Tuesdays demonstration. ", "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. This page is not available in other languages. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Piros said she had to file public records requests just to access all of the information Smith was sharing with other board members in the conservative majority. Im an elected official and I support my neighbors. [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. In Newberg, four of the seven board members voted to fire Morelock, who was under contract through June 2024. 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. parents, moving secondary school schedules to trimesters, and changing start times to earlier for all ages. What brought you out tonight to the protest? 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). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Be a part of it! Penner responded: "You know exactly why, Rebecca. Take action today! There is no point in a federal judge striking down something that a state judge already had.. abruptly firing former Newberg superintendent Joe Morelock without cause, he board named as its next superintendent, Stephen Phillips. Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. There has been insufficient public comments, input, notification, and it is 10:30 at night on a school night, Penner said. And those are my kids. Newberg educators support Dr. Morelock and the 3 board members who tried their best to stop this atrocity. Morelock had been superintendent for two years and was under contract through June. Newberg School Board voted 4 to 3 on November 9 to remove Dr. Joe Morelock as superintendent without cause. Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! 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.
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