Also Tuesday night, the board discussed its first complaint under the new political symbols ban, a rainbow sign in an elementary school window that said Be Known, a slogan used by George Fox University. I assume that is because the state court had already enjoined enforcement of the school board policy that led to both of the lawsuits. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Board Vice-Chair, Director Zone 7 Newberg educators support Dr. Morelock and the 3 board members who tried their best to stop this atrocity. I dont believe this is political, its about human beings. Directors say they need more information before choosing; next round of interviews set for May 5. It wasnt until the meeting started, more than a half hour past the original 7 p.m. start time, that board chair Dave Brown added an agenda item to discuss the superintendent. Everything will work out eventually OK," he said. 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. "Just remember that from the darkest dark comes the brightest light. The ruling validates our claims and assertions, the NEA release said. If you looked at the agenda for Tuesdays Newberg school board meeting, youd have no idea the board was planning to fire Superintendent Joe Morelock. Group showed footage of fatal Breonna Taylor raid at restaurant event, dine BLM co-founders cousin dies after police repeatedly use Taser, video shows, Bidens marijuana policy may change attitudes toward immigrants. A White man was scared to death of Ralph Yarl. NEWBERG An Oregon school board has banned educators from displaying Black Lives Matter and gay pride symbols, prompting a torrent of recriminations and threats to boycott the town and . Elected in 2019 - Term expires 6/30/23 Appointed in 2022 - Term expires 6/30/23 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. NEWBERG, Ore. (KOIN) The Newberg Education Association is suing the Newberg School District after the. [5], There are seven school board members, each serving four-year terms. Smith, the lawyer, continued his involvement in the board meeting, directing Brown of the language to use in moving to terminate Morelocks employment. 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. 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. Be a part of it! On behalf of Dr. Morelock and the work he has begun, we will continue to fight for safe, stable learning environments for our students. 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. 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. 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. Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. If the school board had rescinded the policy back in August 2021, when we along with our Newberg community, spoke out publicly against the changes, and then again when we directly addressed the board on the matter warning them we would be forced to pursue legal action and finally when we served them with a tort claims notice, we could have saved hours of legal preparation and public funds, it said in the release. 2 more resign from contentious Oregon school board | AP News Board chair Dave Brown did not reply to a request for comment. Pefferle was fired over the blackface incident, according to the Newberg Graphic. Be a part of it! 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. The employee was terminated from her position. But critics remain upset about what the adopted policy will mean for the school district. I move that we table this and adjourn the meeting, I feel its too important to push this through, 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. Why dont they? The NEA said the boards decision to ban political symbols was unwarranted and ill-conceived, hence the settlement. Board delays decision on next Newberg school superintendent 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. The new dynamic has allowed the conservative board members to pass motions that the previous board neither permitted nor passed. Penner then asked Brown to adjourn the meeting, despite there being more items on the agenda, saying, "I don't think anything constructive will happen with this board again.". As pressure mounted, the four conservative members voted to hire a. "He had a very personal approach and didn't just sit in his office and make decisions arbitrarily. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. We asked a few of the attendees why they turned out. 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. NEA settles lawsuit against Newberg OR School District, board Oregon school worker suspended for showing up in blackface in apparent protest of vaccine mandate. The board will later decide what counts as "political," but Pride flags and BLM messages were repeatedly referenced during the meeting. 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. 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. Time is set aside at the business meeting for public comment. The board voted to table that item during Tuesday's meeting. 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. Removing Superintendent Morelock from his post is part of a troubling national trend of extremist school boards ousting experienced, valuable school leaders, which is detrimental to the students they are supposed to serve. For Black boys, this isnt A Black man was dismembered. If youre shopping for a new purse, check out these luxurious bags that look quite high-end, but cost less than $100. When I was there these symbols were allowed, so to see it come to this is really disappointing. Mailing Address for the Board 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. The settlement, rendered in December, means the court case will not go forward. This is my senior year, and this ban would change everything, how I feel about being there. The decision in suburban Portland follows a pair of recent racist incidents at Newberg Public Schools. Why did you organize it? 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.. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Penner and Piros spoke out against the resolution and the board's four members who were in support of it. 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. Newberg teachers union sues district over BLM, Pride flag ban Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! Appointed in 2022 - Term expires 6/30/23 Board members said they did not receive the documents until the executive session that evening. Zone Name Term Ends 1 Trevor DeHart 2025 2 Shelley Kolb 2023 3 Ron Rilee 2023 4 Raquel Peregrino de . Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 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. Citizens are encouraged to express their ideas, concerns and judgments through communication with District staff and Board members. Board vice chair Brian Shannon, who created the initial wording of the political symbols ban, called it the grayest of gray areas. The 4-3 decision drew widespread scrutiny regionally and across the U.S. as national news outlets reported on some of the blowback, namely the construction of a large Pride flag within sight of the citys high school. We could have upheld the Newberg traditions of the past and collaborated together as a united team.. Newberg schools' ban on certain symbols violates Oregon Constitution Campaign issues ad to recall Newberg schools' Dave Brown We're going to lose so much from this action. [8], An elementary school employee of the district reported to work wearing blackface in "protest" of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Boothby says she organized the protest because when she attended Newberg High School she didnt always feel welcome as a gay student. "These symbols arent hurting anyone and I dont see why banning them is necessary," said Pea. "This is going to set our district back decades. However, this topic will be on the minds and tongues of many in Newberg and its greater community for some time. The initial vote drew immediate backlash from community members, sparking peaceful protests from the LGBTQ and Black communities. He was hired as the permanent Superintendent beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. The Newberg School Board usually meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. We're so sorry. 30 minutes have been allotted for public comments, with a two-minute limit per person. 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. Find Your . Because they're cowards and they know they're going to get sued. School Board | Newberg Oregon School District It's a huge hit to our school district," she said. Our educators are united in their goal to create classrooms where students can walk in and feel like they belong.. Oregon school board ban on anti-racist, LGBT signs draws ire Why are prominent Los Angeles Latinos saying such racist things. Its just such a bold statement to make. Dont wait. The Newberg school board is seen meeting over Zoom on Nov. 9, 2021. These counter-protesters noted they simply wanted to voice their support for the ban. My mom, in the 50s and 60s, fought for Black rights. Following the vote, Piros spoke again, addressing the four board members who voted to fire Morelock. 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.". Electedin 2019 Individual leaders who have voiced concerns with this policy include the Mayor of Newberg and the President of George Fox University; both of these leaders issued a harsh rebuke of those who classify school as an inappropriate place for discussing contentious issues. Board member. Newberg School District - Wikipedia The Newberg School Board's choice to ban BLM and Pride flags came following a shift in the Boards composition. Wolfer withdraws from school board race - NewsBreak Brian Shannon, the Newberg School Boards vice chairman, introduced the measure over the summer. No, Brown replied. Im an elected official and I support my neighbors. But Brown added two new items, including one about Morelock. A conservative majority now exists on the Board, after the local group Save our Schools backed two successful bids for spots on the Board. Director Zone 1 . 1:09. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. rennet@newberg.k12.or.us. Newberg School District (29J) is a public school district headquartered in Newberg in the U.S. state of Oregon. Pride flags can literally save someones life, and youre just going to take that away?, Proud Boys supporter pleads guilty to threatening Sen. Rafael Warnock: Dead men cant pass laws, N.C. hospital system fires about 175 workers in one of the largest-ever mass terminations due to a vaccine mandate, Essential reporting from around the world, Oregon school board bans Pride and Black Lives Matter symbols in the classroom, Ukraine live briefing: Kyiv targeted by missiles; explosions in Russia derail train, damage power line, Philippine presidents White House visit reflects sharp upturn in ties, Eyeing China, Biden official floats a new Washington consensus, The deadly world of white-supremacist prison gangs. 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. Appointed in 2022 -Term expires 6/30/23 OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. NEWBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT|714 E. 6TH ST. NEWBERG, OREGON 97132|(503) 554-5000. The board discussion and vote to remove Morelock was tense. 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 . Newberg school board members appear to defeat recall by tight - opb pic.twitter.com/XqAevRkRB7. "The fact that a person cannot run for school board in Newberg without having his or her life ripped apart is an absolute tragedy for our community and we ask every candidate in the race for school board to condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms." Emails to Brown seeking comment on Wolfer's withdrawal went unanswered by press time. 'Silencing us isn't OK:' Newberg residents protest school board ban on Those in favor did not explain their decision.
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