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. Penner pointed out the juxtaposition in the board majority pushing to make a decision on Morelock while putting off a decision on the rainbow sign. Renee Powell, one of the conservative members on the school board, said that the policy would improve the lives of students. Navigating a global pandemic with immense challenges, Dr. Morelocks leadership has been demonstrated in the low turnover of building and district leadership, and the hiring of excellent new teachers and staff who more closely reflect our student body. What brought you out tonight to the protest? Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. In May, the board named as its next superintendent, Stephen Phillips, who was put on leave amid an investigation in his most recent Oregon superintendent role and who resigned from another superintendent position after retweeting an offensive remark about people who enter the country illegally. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. Board Vice-Chair, Director Zone 7 The board enacted contentious policies over the past year, including a ban on teachers displaying pride and Black Lives Matter displays on campuses which was later expanded to all political displays after legal concerns and abruptly firing former Newberg superintendent Joe Morelock without cause. 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. "We will be paying for two superintendents," Penner said during the meeting. The board also voted Tuesday on whether to retain lawyer Tyler Smith, an outside attorney they initially hired at the end of August. In August the Newberg school board voted to ban pride and Black Lives Matter, and any broadly political signs, clothing, and other items. 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. So everything will work out eventually.. IE 11 is not supported. Other lawsuits Many have called for the recall process of Board Member Shannon, the driving force behind the ban. Two board members resigned from the board this week citing this and other recent moves by the board.Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian. The Newberg School Board usually meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. 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.. 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.". The board voted to adjourn the meeting, but not before Piros addressed Morelock. Newberg School Board voted 4 to 3 on November 9 to remove Dr. Joe Morelock as superintendent without cause. Its just such a bold statement to make. 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. Be a part of it! 714 East 6th St Penner and Piros spoke out against the resolution and the board's four members who were in support of it. Pamplin Media Group is a KOIN 6 News media partner. The Newberg School District and four of its board members face a lawsuit over a policy banning political and quasi-political symbols. Appointed in 2022 - Term expires 6/30/23 We're going to lose so much from this action. To me its sad that were still doing this, because Ive been out here doing this since the 60s and we have to keep being on top of it., I would tell them to listen to the folks. 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. Our educators are united in their goal to create classrooms where students can walk in and feel like they belong.. Those in favor did not explain their decision. 1:09. This is my senior year, and this ban would change everything, how I feel about being there. 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. The settlement, according to a release from the Newberg Education Association, accomplished three things, primarily that the school board will not appeal the lower courts ruling that the ban be lifted; that the board will either add language to GBG recognizing the lower courts ruling or rescind the amendment entirely, which the board did at its Jan. 10 meeting; and that the board reimburse the union for a significant portion of the legal fees incurred from fighting this illegal amendment, the release said. 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The news got the attention of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who visited with Newberg advocates while she was on vacation. NEWBERG, Ore. Newberg School District board member Ines Pea has resigned her position. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Electedin 2019 The Newberg School Board's choice to ban BLM and Pride flags came following a shift in the Boards composition. 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. 503-888-6365, Brian Shannon Board . The resolution outlining the no-cause firing was not included in the board packet for Tuesday's meeting. Why did you organize it? 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The policy bans employees from displaying controversial or political signs or symbols. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. "These symbols arent hurting anyone and I dont see why banning them is necessary," said Pea. This page is not available in other languages. The Board hires the superintendent, who is responsible to carry out Board policies, provide educational leadership and manage the District's budget and staff. 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. "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. This ban was the first big item on the newly conservative Boards agenda. The decision in suburban Portland follows a pair of recent racist incidents at Newberg Public Schools. There is no point in a federal judge striking down something that a state judge already had.. "Know that your integrity has spurred us to be faithful servers to our children and we wish you well. Facing an ending fund balance of less than $500,000 on a $51 million General Fund Budget, Dr. Morelocks fiscal responsibility and his work to rebuild trust steadied the district. 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. The district will likely need an interim superintendent as the school year continues. abruptly firing former Newberg superintendent Joe Morelock without cause, he board named as its next superintendent, Stephen Phillips. The Newberg School Board has rescinded a controversial policy that banned staff from putting up political signs or displays in schools. 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.". 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. 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. 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. Kate Brown (D) announced last month that all teachers, staff and volunteers in the states public schools had to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. Piros seemed to allude to Morelocks lack of enforcement of the political symbols ban as a possible cause for his no-cause termination. That does make me a defiant outlier in the face of this board. Schneider and other members who oppose the ban believe the flags provide a source of safety and security to underrepresented and vulnerable students. [6], The Newberg School District made news headlines for voting to ban "political" symbols from school grounds, including Pride and Black Lives Matter imagery. 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. 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. They were represented by Karen OCasey of the Portland law firm Hart Wanger. Trevor DeHart The Yamhill County Circuit Court has made a decision in a case filed last year by a Newberg teacher against the school district and four members of the school board. She tried to get gas. 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. After hearing from a fraction of community members who have opinions on the subject, the Newberg Public Schools board voted 4-3 to keep any sort of political signage out of schools. rennet@newberg.k12.or.us. Board chair Dave Brown did not reply to a request for comment. 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. 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. Controversy in Newberg persists after the recent Newberg School Board decision to ban both Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags, and Pride flags. 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 . 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. Former board member Ines Pea resigned several months ago, alleging that she faced a toxic work environment on the board. ", Oregon school district parent: Students of color 'are under attack' at Newberg schools, the Newberg Public Schools board voted 4-3 to keep any sort of political signage out of schools. 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. He looked in people's faces and knew what impact his decisions would have.". A simple pride or BLM flag in a classroom shows the love and acceptance that we need, Till said. Zone Name Term Ends 1 Trevor DeHart 2025 2 Shelley Kolb 2023 3 Ron Rilee 2023 4 Raquel Peregrino de . 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. Since the board meeting, elected officials around Oregon have responded to the firing with anger and concern for the districts future. Smith, the lawyer, continued his involvement in the board meeting, directing Brown of the language to use in moving to terminate Morelocks employment. [1], It is mostly in Yamhill County, where it serves the cities of Newberg and Dundee. For the kids that cant say anything now, I wanted to be that voice for them. As a publicly elected official, mother, and human, I will not break the law or engage in open and hostile discrimination, 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. "My mom back in the '50s and '60s fought for Black rights, " said McGowan. The board voted to table that item during Tuesday's meeting. The specific dates can be found here. Their place is to teach the approved curriculum, and thats all this policy does, is ensure thats happening in our schools.. The ACLU celebrated the ruling in a tweet Thursday, saying they await the courts final order. 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. Families, staff, and community members marched in support of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter ahead of a Newberg school board meeting Aug. 10, 2021. Find Your . NEWBERG, Ore. A Yamhill County Circuit Court judge has ruled that the Newberg School District's ban on some symbols, including Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, is unconstitutional, the. We are very disappointed in this decision.". The move elicited suspicion by the three minority members of the . 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. Its just common sense to me.. 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 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. 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. 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. At Tuesdays meeting, Penner indicated she is disgusted over a vote that she suggested had already been decided weeks earlier by the conservative majority. This is not a functioning business meeting, Penner said. Cherice Boch (left) and her son Espen at a Newberg protest on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. If youre shopping for a new purse, check out these luxurious bags that look quite high-end, but cost less than $100. 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. To get in touch with any Director, you may contact them directly or contact School Board Secretaryat 503-554-5000 The entire Board can be reached atboardmembers@newberg.k12.or.us. PORTLAND, Ore. ( Portland Tribune) Newberg has been in the news a lot lately. I feel like this has been on your agenda since Day 1, since the two new board members were voted on. The policy limiting the kinds of images or signs school employees can display on campus originally began as a ban passed by the school board in August of LGBTQIA+ and Black Lives Matters flags. 408-472-4257, RonRilee 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. Both the school principal and Morelock dismissed the complaint, saying the sign and its message are not political, quasi-political, or controversial. 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.. Newberg, Oregon 97132. Contacting a School Board Member Elected in 2019 - Term expires 6/30/23 The lawsuit requested a jury trial, sought an injunction stopping enforcement of the boards directive and asked for a declaratory judgement from the bench admonishing the board for their actions. Board member. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. Joe Morelock, Newberg school board hires new superintendent with past controversies in Beaverton, Jewell, Lawsuit targets Newberg school district policy banning political symbols. Heres what that means. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Brown, the board chair, seemed unaware of the details of the complaint, despite its inclusion in the board packet. All meetings are open to the public, except for executive sessions as authorized by law. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 971-409-5792, Dave Brown 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 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. Those wishing to speak at the regular session will need to complete the Newberg School Board Public Comment form and submit it to the board secretary prior to the start of the meeting. They should be able to wear their shirts and signs that say Black Lives Matter and Asian Lives Matter and whatever else. He has been key in the transformation of a struggling district. "Anti-free speech, anti-free expression, anti-safety. Following the vote, Piros spoke again, addressing the four board members who voted to fire Morelock. 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. "Dr. Morelock, we know you and we trust you and this pains us terribly," she said. This move is yet another example of a board majority bringing instability to our schools. 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.

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