GARDINER — With the school year over, Gardiner Area High School has lifted its temporary prohibition on displaying any flags except the American flag as officials plan to craft a permanent policy for the district.
The temporary measure was enacted after a dispute erupted between students involving displaying flags on school grounds.
The Maine School Administrative 11 board of directors met Thursday to sign the warrants to validate the budget for next year, but also to discuss possible times to meet over the summer to look at the flag policy.
Flag policy questions arose after a student put a “Trump 2020” flag over a Pride flag hung on the wall outside of the school’s Little Theater. The Pride flag had been approved by the Gardiner Area High School administration. Superintendent Pat Hopkins told the MSAD 11 directors Thursday night that after the Trump flag was placed over the Pride flag, it ultimately ended with a “tense situation” with the two flags being ripped down and disciplinary action for some involved students.
Hopkins explained to the board that the district already has a policy that indicates the administration gets to decide what is put up or hung on walls, but now what must be defined is “who decides what that should be?”
The board has tentatively set Aug. 3 during the already-scheduled regular business meeting as a time to discuss the policy and plan to seek input from the community and students on how to move forward.
“You (the school board) do have a policy that the administration gets to decide what is put up, but the question now is, with civil discourse, who is going to decide what that should be?” Hopkins said. “Is it left up to the administration? Or should there be more boundaries, or have it be clearer defined on what that should be?”
Hopkins referred to the student handbook policy, approved by the school board, on “posting and distributing materials.”
The policy states: “Prior to posting or distributing handouts, flyers or notices of any kind, students must receive approval from the building principal. This includes all students, all clubs, student organizations and athletic teams. Students, clubs, and/or organizations who do not follow this procedure will receive appropriate disciplinary consequences and the materials will be confiscated.”
Asked how many students had received disciplinary action, Hopkins said it was more than one but did not have the exact number because of the high school’s administrative duties for Friday’s last day of school, including for Principal Chad Kempton, who is leaving the district.
“There was an eruption, lots of loud voices, screaming, hollering and swearing,” said Hopkins. “The administration, when they went to address it, informed me they were really concerned about the escalation of the situation.”
Hopkins worked with administration and the school attorney to create a temporary measure to only allow American flags, as required by the state in every classroom in schools across the country, but the measure was lifted Sunday, a week after the situation and in time for the last day of school for students.
The Maine School Management Association has a list of sample policies for school boards across the state, but school districts can amend the policy to how they see fit, or make their own, usually with a school attorney or help from MSMA. There are state-required policies school districts must have and a policy that is recommended by the state.
Hopkins said the past week had “no issues” after the ban was lifted.
School Board Member Cullen McGough said that as a board member, he feels “responsible” there is not a stronger policy where students can have discourse on a controversial topic. MSAD 11 Director Jim Lothridge said there is a “fine line” between discourse and escalation. The district does have a policy on “teaching sensitive issues.”
“The difference with discourse and conflict is that it can cross that line in a heartbeat,” Lothridge said. “I have a little bit of experience with it and it can get real ugly, real fast. Unless it’s taken care of quickly, it festers and if we don’t address it, it will get worse.”
Hopkins said the district will provide education to staff through professional development, which will happen in the fall. The exact plan is not in place yet but will be ready to share with the board at the Aug. 3 meeting.
“Presently, we are researching available resources and will work with the new high school principal to develop our plan,” Hopkins said.
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