The Marblehead School Committee meets this Thursday and will host its second reading of a controversial draft flag policy. The policy requires three readings (discussions) before it can be voted on. Public comment is also on the agenda. The meeting opens to the public at 6 p.m. and is held at the high school library. It can also be joined remotely HERE.
The latest flag proposal, presented at the April 3 School Committee meeting, allows only U.S., state and POW/MIA flags. However, it also gives the superintendent the power to make recommendations to the School Committee for additional banners and flags. The School Committee could ultimately reject the superintendent’s recommendation, according to member Sarah Fox.
Interim Superintendent John Robidoux told the Current on April 4, “I will always seek input from stakeholders when and where it is appropriate, so yes, if the policy is adopted as written after the three readings, stakeholders will have a voice.”
The newest version is also expected to include language specifying the policy is for flags and banners “affixed” to school property. It would not regulate student clothing or other personal items like bumper stickers and locker signage.
Marblehead High School student Nina Johnson, who submitted a counter-proposal with her peers that would give students more voice in the policy, reacted to the April 3 changes.
“Although the School Committee’s new policy is a step in the right direction in including some input from the superintendent, student and faculty voice should be included more directly into decisions about banners that are displayed in our own school,” Johnson said. “The students have put forward a policy that accomplishes this and complies with legal concerns, and it should be reconsidered. Additionally, the School Committee should listen to the educators who continue to stand up for the First Amendment rights of students and teachers.”
Robidoux initially expressed concern about his role in the latest policy, asking for more clarity.
“Here’s what I don’t want to happen,” he said. “I don’t want it to end up being a situation where my feelings on the subject matter, my way of thinking about a certain flag or banner, is going to influence my recommendation, and it’s going to come back on me… I want no part of that.”
School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner said the superintendent would use the criteria that any additional flags or banners should “reflect the mission and values of the district” and not of the superintendent himself.
The committee agreed that it would be up to Robidoux to “operationalize” the process by which people come to him with flag requests.
Meanwhile, the teachers union says it has not received a response to a March 19 cease-and-desist letter it sent to the School Committee related to the flag policy.
“This proposed policy, if adopted, impacts one or more mandatory subjects of bargaining and therefore cannot be implemented without collective bargaining,” the Marblehead Education Association letter read. “In addition to the apparent violations of our members’ rights under M.G.L. Chapter 150E, the proposed policy violates the state and federal constitutions’ protections for free speech and expression. As a union of education workers we have grave concerns that the committee seems determined to restrict educators’ and students’ academic and intellectual freedom.”
During several public meetings, an overwhelming majority of students and residents have spoken against the draft policy restricting flags. A much smaller group has supported it.
Schaeffner said April 3 that she would update the proposal again to incorporate language developed at the meeting. She has not responded to requests for that update.
