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 participant walkout and media scrutiny But school board members on Thursday night appeared ready to walk back on specific of the controversial changes For example the original proposed version of Protocol 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 recounted the board because the ban helps prevent hate and ensures a safe climate for students The original version would have meant waiting for problems to occur instead of preventing them in the first place she reported after the meeting It s a key in search of a predicament But the version of Plan 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 commented 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 initiatives This is based on recommendations from our school district attorneys he explained The proposed policies utilize thoroughly vetted model policies provided by the Minnesota School Board Association and contain necessary language that does not at present exist in program to ensure the district complies with relevant statutes Late s event Superintendent Steve Massey revealed 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 attendee 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 informed the board As a end of this occurrence 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 situation Massey notified that board that it is significant that the specific ban of the three symbols remain in Guidelines No As the board deliberates updates to the agenda an outright prohibition of these symbols will represent the district s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming surroundings for our students and families he stated Mary Beth Higgins a counselor at Forest Lake Area Middle School thanked the board in advance for including the specific language in the agenda Symbols such as the Confederate flag carry a long and painful history of racism violence and oppression Higgins announced For a large number of 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 locality Novice clubs framework Board members had previously considered another change to another program one that could have eliminated affinity- and interest-based clubs But the language presented at the board meeting for Approach 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 leaders reported The guidelines 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 revealed established the board listened to the voices of the district s students families and staff Thank you for continuing to aid clubs that fall under the Equal Access Act such as our affinity- and interest-based clubs even at the middle school she reported 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 Learner population reaction Caylee Metheny a scholar at Forest Lake Area Middle School questioned why the board didn t reconsider the guidelines changes earlier Why did it take making the national news for you to conclusively include us she inquired She revealed clubs at the schools are key to attendee identity It s about how students identify and their cultures and how they were raised and their religions she stated 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 agenda changes noted she is concerned the board could amend the procedures language right before the vote on June She commented she hopes the protests and locality input will pressure the board to keep the program 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 commented When our students speak up by sharing their experiences in participant groups by organizing shirts that emphasize the importance of kindness and inclusive words and by organizing a protest the school board should listen When area members speak up in droves by signing and sharing a petition supporting pupil groups the school board should listen And when the populace shows up as taxpayers and concerned area members who oppose proposals that open the doors to harmful incidents the school board should listen Luger reported Luger recounted the board that neighborhood members will be watching on June It sure feels like the entire Ranger society is watching along with the sizable chunk of the metro area she mentioned referring to the high school mascot We will continue to watch with the expectation that the present 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 Vitality 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