Forest Lake School Board hears input on possible contentious policy changes

Proposed changes to pupil activity policies in the Forest Lake Area School District have led this spring to overflowing school board meetings a scholar walkout and media scrutiny But school board members on Thursday night appeared ready to walk back on several of the controversial changes For example the original proposed version of Strategy No would have followed Minnesota School Board Association model language and removed specific bans on symbols such as swastikas the KKK and the Confederate flag on clothing That removal would have been problematic former school board member Kate Luthner stated the board because the ban helps prevent hate and ensures a safe conditions for students The original version would have meant waiting for problems to occur instead of preventing them in the first place she revealed after the meeting It s a fix in search of a concern But the version of Strategy No that got its first reading at the Forest Lake Area School District board meeting Thursday night included the specific bans The board will vote on the measure on June School Board Chairman Curt Rebelein disclosed the board wants to align the district s policies with Minnesota School Board Association recommendations adhere to state and federal laws and provide a consistent process for all sessions This is based on recommendations from our school district attorneys he revealed The proposed policies utilize thoroughly vetted model policies provided by the Minnesota School Board Association and contain necessary language that does not as of now exist in guidelines to ensure the district complies with relevant statutes Late s matter Superintendent Steve Massey disclosed Thursday night that the ban on the wearing or displaying Confederate flag swastika and KKK signs or symbols was sadly and tragically implemented in the late s after an African-American pupil was surrounded by a group of students after school and was physically assaulted The following day a group of students wore white T-shirts to school in solidarity of their involvement in the racial assault Massey recounted the board As a consequence of this episode the family moved out of the school district Additionally several other African-American students and their families moved out of the district Our communities have come a long way but this does not erase the harmful history of this sad and tragic event and the related issues surrounding the case Massey narrated that board that it is key that the specific ban of the three symbols remain in Strategy No As the board deliberates updates to the strategy an outright prohibition of these symbols will represent the district s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming setting for our students and families he commented Mary Beth Higgins a counselor at Forest Lake Area Middle School thanked the board in advance for including the specific language in the guidelines Symbols such as the Confederate flag carry a long and painful history of racism violence and oppression Higgins mentioned For multiple students and staff seeing that symbol isn t just uncomfortable it s deeply hurtful and threatening By naming these symbols directly you have shown a real commitment to creating schools where every learner feels safe respected and valued Thank you for taking action that reflects our shared values of inclusion dignity and public Attendee clubs agenda Board members had previously considered another change to another guidelines one that could have eliminated affinity- and interest-based clubs But the language presented at the board meeting for Framework No included those clubs called limited open forums for students enrolled in secondary schools The clubs are student-led and not connected to the school curriculum or athletic groups district functionaries disclosed The program language also to be voted on on June states that those clubs officially called noncurriculum-related novice groups shall have equal access and a fair opportunity to conduct meetings during noninstructional time Higgins thanked the board for including that language as well a move she reported proved the board listened to the voices of the district s students families and staff Thank you for continuing to help clubs that fall under the Equal Access Act such as our affinity- and interest-based clubs even at the middle school she commented These clubs provide spaces where students can connect express themselves and find belonging That sense of belonging is powerful and makes a real difference in students lives Pupil society reaction Caylee Metheny a scholar at Forest Lake Area Middle School questioned why the board didn t reconsider the procedures changes earlier Why did it take making the national news for you to completely include us she demanded She reported clubs at the schools are key to learner identity It s about how students identify and their cultures and how they were raised and their religions she commented It s not OK to take that away and merge it into one American heritage because America is not just Americans it s Hispanics it s African-Americans it s Asians It s everybody Claire Luger a member of the Forest Lake Joint Coalition a group formed to protest the original approach changes explained she is concerned the board could amend the protocol language right before the vote on June She reported she hopes the protests and group input will pressure the board to keep the procedures language presented on Thursday intact The current language regarding middle-school groups and including explicit prohibition of hate group insignia deserves nothing less than a unanimous vote Luger explained When our students speak up by sharing their experiences in attendee groups by organizing shirts that emphasize the importance of kindness and inclusive words and by organizing a protest the school board should listen When society members speak up in droves by signing and sharing a petition supporting novice groups the school board should listen And when the inhabitants shows up as taxpayers and concerned district members who oppose proposals that open the doors to harmful incidents the school board should listen Luger reported Luger explained the board that population members will be watching on June It sure feels like the entire Ranger locality is watching along with the sizable chunk of the metro area she explained referring to the high school mascot We will continue to watch with the expectation that in the modern day s language around middle school groups and hate insignia passes unanimously when it s up for vote Related Articles burglaries K stolen Eight men now face racketeering charges MN Wellness Department updates fish consumption guidelines for PFAS Forest Lake newspaper will now be based in Stillwater Forest Lake looks at cryptocurrency ATM registration after series of scams Forest Lake career offender gets -year prison term for swindling businesses homeowners