Posted on Jan 18, 2023
Newberg district rescinds policy on ‘controversial’ symbols following lawsuit settlement
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Union representing teachers says ruling protects marginalized students
The union representing teachers in the Newberg School District has reached a settlement in a lawsuit over a school board policy banning “controversial” symbols.
The Newberg Education Association called the settlement a “bittersweet victory” in a Facebook post shared last month, four days before the final order was signed in U.S. District Court.
Another lawsuit filed by the ACLU and a staff member in the district was resolved back in September. In that case, a Yamhill County Circuit Court judge ruled that the school board’s policy was unconstitutional.
The school board voted to rescind the policy at its Jan. 10 meeting, effective immediately.
According to the union, the terms of the settlement, first reported by the Newberg Graphic, included directives to the school board that they wouldn’t appeal the decision in the ACLU case and that they would amend or rescind the policy on controversial symbols.
“The policy will not be amended or changed, it is gone,” Newberg superintendent Stephen Phillips said in an email to OPB.
The union representing teachers in the Newberg School District has reached a settlement in a lawsuit over a school board policy banning “controversial” symbols.
The Newberg Education Association called the settlement a “bittersweet victory” in a Facebook post shared last month, four days before the final order was signed in U.S. District Court.
Another lawsuit filed by the ACLU and a staff member in the district was resolved back in September. In that case, a Yamhill County Circuit Court judge ruled that the school board’s policy was unconstitutional.
The school board voted to rescind the policy at its Jan. 10 meeting, effective immediately.
According to the union, the terms of the settlement, first reported by the Newberg Graphic, included directives to the school board that they wouldn’t appeal the decision in the ACLU case and that they would amend or rescind the policy on controversial symbols.
“The policy will not be amended or changed, it is gone,” Newberg superintendent Stephen Phillips said in an email to OPB.
Newberg district rescinds policy on ‘controversial’ symbols following lawsuit settlement
Posted from opb.org
Newberg
Schools
Policy
LGBTQ+
Conservative
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."In the Newberg Education Association’s post announcing the settlement, union officials said they “hold hope” that the relationship between the board and the union can improve, but said they will continue to hold board officials “accountable for their actions.”
“The ruling validates our claims and assertions. It supports all the steps we have taken to fight the policy change,” the union said in the post. “It protects the marginalized populations in our student and staff bodies. We can continue to create safe spaces in our schools and offer support to students who identify as LGBTQIA+ and students of color without fear of retaliation.”
Now in his first year leading the district, Superintendent Phillips said in September that he wanted to create unity in the divided district.
“Obviously, there’s been a lot of political unrest here in Newberg and I’m convinced it doesn’t matter how left you are, how right you are,” Phillips said in September.
“There’s more things we have in common with each other than we have different … one of those things is kids — we all want what’s best for kids.”
..."In the Newberg Education Association’s post announcing the settlement, union officials said they “hold hope” that the relationship between the board and the union can improve, but said they will continue to hold board officials “accountable for their actions.”
“The ruling validates our claims and assertions. It supports all the steps we have taken to fight the policy change,” the union said in the post. “It protects the marginalized populations in our student and staff bodies. We can continue to create safe spaces in our schools and offer support to students who identify as LGBTQIA+ and students of color without fear of retaliation.”
Now in his first year leading the district, Superintendent Phillips said in September that he wanted to create unity in the divided district.
“Obviously, there’s been a lot of political unrest here in Newberg and I’m convinced it doesn’t matter how left you are, how right you are,” Phillips said in September.
“There’s more things we have in common with each other than we have different … one of those things is kids — we all want what’s best for kids.”
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