Penner responded: "You know exactly why, Rebecca. As pressure mounted, the four conservative members voted to hire a. The Newberg school board is seen meeting over Zoom on Nov. 9, 2021. And Im just very disappointed in this decision., Thanks Rebecca, Morelock told her. The apparel rule would only apply to staff while they are working. 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. 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. The main office is located at 714 E. Sixth Street in Newberg. But critics remain upset about what the adopted policy will mean for the school district. Such a bold statement, and so were out here making ours., Charlie Gates, Newberg High School graduate, As a transgender Black man, I wanted to share some of my story and support the Black and LGBTQ community. We can continue to create safe spaces in our schools and offer support to students who identity as LGBTQIA+ and students of color without fear of retaliation.. Love is love, everybody has the right to choose. 503-888-6365, Brian Shannon As an elected official you want to listen to understand their perspective and put yourself in the shoes of a gay person or trans person. 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. Removing Superintendent Morelock from his post is part of a troubling national trend of extremist school boards ousting experienced, valuable school leaders, which is detrimental to the students they are supposed to serve, Bonamici wrote. 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.". The conservative majority on the school board in Newberg voted 4 to 3 to adopt a policy that has attracted national attention, criticism and protests in the weeks since it was introduced. Shannon told the Oregonian that Pride flags and banners were to be included in the ban due to conversations he said he has had with a few Newberg families who dont agree with the gender ideology that flag represents.. However, this topic will be on the minds and tongues of many in Newberg and its greater community for some time. Board member Brandy Penner countered that the top five performing schools in the state had diversity coordinators and diversity statements, while the districts that were struggling educationally have a "lack of anything to do with equity. ACLU sues Newberg school district, the latest of multiple lawsuits The ban was passed in early August, and garnered a great deal of opposition from other board members, community members, and the state at-large. 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. . Oregon's Newberg School Board bans Pride, Black Lives Matter symbols in 'Deal with it:' Newberg school board's conservative majority defends The parties jointly moved to dismiss the case on the grounds it was now moot, Crist said. Wolfer withdraws from school board race - NewsBreak The dissenting board members said the move to fire Morelock, coupled with litigation over the controversial political symbols ban, could have a grave financial impact on the district. 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. Easterday granted a summary judgment in the case of teacher Chelsea Shotts vs. the district and the four conservative members of the board. Some board members seemed confused about what executive session business would become public. Take action today! Man shot by Salem police officer was person of interest in police car shootings, 'I am sorry': Shemia Fagan ends consulting side job with cannabis company, Portland temperatures soaring after weeks of near-record rainfall, Newberg teachers union sues over 'political images' ban in schools, Newberg school board votes to ban teachers from displaying BLM, Pride symbols in classrooms, Dozens in Newberg rally against hate amid ban on political signs. In Newberg, four of the seven board members voted to fire Morelock, who was under contract through June 2024. This page is not available in other languages. PORTLAND, Ore. ( Pamplin Media Group) The union that represents the nearly 300 teachers in the Newberg School District is heralding a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed the school. Were trying so hard just to be equal and be heard. PORTLAND, Ore. (Pamplin Media Group) The union that represents the nearly 300 teachers in the Newberg School District is heralding a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed the school boards 2021 ban on BLM, Pride and other political symbols in classrooms was unconstitutional. Responding to Morelocks termination, Oregon House Democrats said theyll take action on Newberg in the next legislative session. This move is yet another example of a board majority bringing instability to our schools. He has been key in the transformation of a struggling district. 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. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Attempts to gain comment from the author of the board policy amendment, Shannon, for his thoughts on the settlement were unsuccessful by press time Saturday. "You're a bigger man than I am," Piros said and started to cry, as Penner put her hand over her mouth. The Wednesday protest failed to prevent the Board from adopting a more general, legalese-styled ban, as it more broadly bans political, or controversial materials, rather than the BLM or Pride flags specifically. "This feels so draconian this feels so anti-everything," one board member said. These are their words, edited for brevity and clarity, (From left to right) Amanda Boothby, Morgaine Terry, Abbee Mortensen and Emily Labahn at the Newberg protest on Tuesday night. 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. The board's main job is to establish District policy. NEWBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT|714 E. 6TH ST. NEWBERG, OREGON 97132|(503) 554-5000. "Anti-free speech, anti-free expression, anti-safety. The Newberg Education Association gathered with community members ahead of the Newberg School Board vote on whether to ban Black Lives Matter and Pride flags at the school. Boothby says she organized the protest because when she attended Newberg High School she didnt always feel welcome as a gay student. This is an after-party of four members, so I say lets just vote get it over with. She added, Its going to be our community, staff and students who are left to fight this.. IE 11 is not supported. Pender said she doesn't know how the school district will handle the financial ramifications of the firing. "Our children should not bear the brunt end of partisan politics meant to further divide. The move elicited suspicion by the three minority members of the . The Oregonian cited Morelock's contract, which the newspaper obtained through a public records request. Shannon and Smith, the lawyer, both interjected to remind Brown that he could not deny the motion to wait, but then the motion failed anyway. Piros said she had to file public records requests just to access all of the information Smith was sharing with other board members in the conservative majority. 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. She said her daughter, who is Black, asks almost every day about other options for her education. The Newberg teachers union said the firing was another example of a board majority bringing instability to the districts schools. Two board members resigned from the board this week citing this and other recent moves by the board.Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian. Under new business, we are discussing the superintendent, said board chair Dave Brown. Newberg school board votes to fire superintendent, no cause given. The Snapchat group sometimes specifically targets Black students. What brought you out tonight to the protest? Newberg School District (29J) is a public school district headquartered in Newberg in the U.S. state of Oregon. Controversial School Board Decision Continues to Divide Newberg Former board member Ines Pea resigned several months ago, alleging that she faced a toxic work environment on the board. Piros concluded the meeting by addressing Morelock. The lawsuit was filed in August 2021 on behalf of four teachers and counselors: Jennifer Schneider, Andrew Gallagher, Katherine Villalobos and Sara Linnertz. To get in touch with any Director, you may contact them directly or contact School Board Secretary at 503-554-5000 The entire Board can be reached at boardmembers@newberg.k12.or.us. The two agenda items were pushed to a meeting later in August. Director Zone 4 Pender said when Morelock was hired, she felt like there was hope for the first time that the school district was headed in a better direction. This Oregon school-related article is a stub. The Newberg School District board has hired Stephen Phillips to serve as the district's next leader. "I'm baffled why you feel this needed to be done and why you feel it needed to be done tonight," Piros said. It wasnt until the meeting started, more than a half hour past the original 7 p.m. start time, that board chair Dave Brown added an agenda item to discuss the superintendent. parents, moving secondary school schedules to trimesters, and changing start times to earlier for all ages. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 Its just such a bold statement to make, said Sophia. Late Tuesday night, the Newberg Education Association released a statement on the firing of Morelock: During tonights school board meeting, the 4 board majority fired Superintendent Joe Morelock for no cause. Director Zone 3 Board chair Dave Brown did not reply to a request for comment. 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 . Appointed in 2022 - Term expires 6/30/23 Cherice Boch (left) and her son Espen at a Newberg protest on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Im so in awe at how many people are here because my experience wasnt the best so seeing everyone so gung-ho about it is heartwarming.. After voicing strong objection to the move, the board's other three members, Rebecca Piros, Brandy Penner and Ines Pea, voted against. Forms will also be available at the regular session board meetings. She announced her decision at a board meeting Tuesday night, citing a "toxic work environment." email:phillipss@newberg.k12.or.us, Address: 714 E. Sixth St,NewbergOR 97132-3406 Director Zone 5 At the start of the public meeting, the boards conservative 4-3 majority voted to add the superintendent discussion, seemingly based on what the board had talked about when they were behind closed doors. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The lawsuit named the school district as well as Brown, Shannon, Powell and DeHart as defendants. 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. When I was there these symbols were allowed, so to see it come to this is really disappointing. The new dynamic has allowed the conservative board members to pass motions that the previous board neither permitted nor passed. 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. Newberg school board hires new superintendent with past - opb
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