In a marathon meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 14, the Redlands school board discussed banning most flags and limiting the holidays and events it recognizes but the board decided to further investigate the issue.
A new proposed policy — sought by newly elected board member Candy Olson, would remove all flags other than the United States, California and military flags from campuses. It also would “guide” which events and holidays the Redlands Unified School District will endorse and sponsor, with an eye on staying away from anything that promotes political, social or ideological movements.
RELATED: Redlands school board to discuss potential flag ban
The policy states that it “serves to protect children from ideological and politically divisive observances and practices. The intent of this board is to maintain a non-exclusionary and welcoming environment for students, staff, and parents.”
No vote was taken on the policy, but the board decided to send a survey to the community to gauge the its feelings. The topic drew about 100 people to the board room, with many left outside waiting to speak to the board. More than 400 emails were sent to the board on the topic.
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A parade of speakers urged trustees to either approve or reject the proposal, which some called a veiled way to keep the pride flag out of schools.
“I stand here today not as some political revolutionary but as a student opposed to this policy,” Redlands High School sophomore Aya Francisco told the board, adding that as a transgender student, they have always felt welcome and celebrated in the district.
Transgender and LGBTQ students are not the board’s political punching bags, Francisco said, questioning what else the board might later do.
“By what extent will you erase the things that make me who I am?” Francisco asked.
Others backed Olson’s proposal.
“This gender ideology is absolutely ridiculous and shouldn’t have a place in our classrooms,” Braxton Foley said.
He added that the only flags that matter are the California and U.S. flags.
Jesus Cisneros agreed.
“There is only one flag that represents everyone, and I do believe in diversity and I do believe in equality,” he said. “The American flag represents everyone, not just a minority.”
Cisneros said that the community is “tired of the gay agenda.”
Greg Briton said the point of the policy is to dictate what flags are flown in the district and those flags should represent everyone or no one.
“The flags there should be flags that represent all of us,” Briton said.
If the policy is OK’d, district employees and volunteers would be prohibited from promoting or recognizing events or ideological movements while representing the district or on official district sites and social media accounts.
Under the potential policy, flags, posters, digital displays, flyers and other related displays would be removed from classrooms — unless approved by the superintendent for educational purposes.
“It is very ironic that this policy is pushing the American flag,” Redlands High School sophomore Isabella Pstross told trustees. “Isn’t this the land of the free?”
She said the policy would limit free speech.
Redlands teacher Patricia Molnar asked the board what type of message the move would send to the community. Flying different flags in her classroom fosters curiosity and acceptance, she said, adding that LGBTQ students are not an ideology or political movement.
Others said that the language of the policy was vague and written in a way that would give the board too much power. They also worried it would bring additional legal fees to a district that already has enough legal expenses.
“The policy introduced by Candy Olson is purposefully vague so a few people can diminish the freedoms and rights of teachers and students,” said Trisha Keeling, of Together for Redlands, a community group that brought attention to the proposal through social media.
Corrine Peyton, a Redlands High senior, said the policy’s vague language lets the school board abuse its power by deciding what is controversial and what isn’t.
Sameer Bhagara, also a Redlands High 12th grader, said the rule could bring legal fees to a district already facing funding issues.
Bhagara said the policy was rescinded in the Temecula Valley Unified School District, which led to legal fees. The Temecula school board revoked its flag policy Dec. 17 in a 5-0 closed session vote after a ruling from the California Public Employment Relations Board that the policy violated the state Educational Employment Relations Act.
“Our students don’t need protection from controversial policies,” he said. “They need protection from poverty.”
The board was split on the issue.
Jeanette Wilson, who represents Trustee Area 4, said people were missing the fact that she and Olson have been approached by the community asking for the policy.
“This is one of their top issues that they talked to us about and they wanted to hold us to our word to work on this issue,” Wilson said.
Many of the parents she spoke to felt that their children could be easily influenced by teachers, which prompted the request, she said.
Olson said the proposal is not about shaming anyone but rather about respecting all beliefs.
“I am here to represent all of the community and there are a lot of parents out there who do not agree, whether or not you and I believe,” Olson said.
The policy was not about limiting student’s free speech, she said, but about limiting influence in the classroom and respecting the rights that parents value at home.
“To suggest that our staff spends their time indoctrinating students about anything beyond education is disrespectful,” Melissa Ayala-Quintero, who represents Trustee Area 3, said.
Of the 461 emails received by the board, 400 were against the policy, 60 were in favor and 24 were from the area, she said.
“That equates to 87% of people who emailed in were not in support of this and I am not going to say that is indicative of the entire population, but that is how the emails have gone so far,” Ayala-Quintero said.
Patty Holohan, the Trustee Area 1 board member, said having a flag that represents even just one student has a powerful effect.
“Whatever makes you fit in is what you should be able to do,” Holohan said.
As a Catholic, Holohan said she has been taught to love everyone and that she will continue to advocate for students who don’t have a voice.
“We are Catholics and Christians,” she said. “We love everyone, we are not singling out anyone.”
Board President Michelle Rendler, called it a difficult topic and suggested the board do a survey to get a better understanding of the community’s feelings.
District officials were to begin work on the survey Wednesday, Jan. 15, and it will be brought to the board later.
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