9/25/2023 Statement to the Board

I’ll be writing a summary of tonight’s board meeting, but first I wanted to provide you with a copy of a statement I made tonight at the meeting…

 I’ve been on the school board for 9 months, and during this time we’ve reviewed several policies.  The policies are updated by the policy committee to reflect changes in laws, then we as a board read and approve them.  Most, if not all, of our policies are copied from the MN School Board Association Model Policies guide.

I’ve been taught that the school board works on district governance and not district management. The board’s work is in policy, and I’ve been told that policies are meant to solve problems.  I’ve also been taught that policies need to be carefully chosen and worded… first, to follow federal and state laws, and second, so that we do not open the door for any unfair or unjust perceptions or treatment. 

In addition to solving problems, policy can serve as guidance and boundaries.  One of the positive outcomes of having boundaries is prevention of problems, it is proactive.  I’ve been told that our current board has never created new policy.   At this point, I’m not sure that we need a new policy, but I do believe that we need to discuss topics that our community is concerned about. Then, out of those discussions, we can determine if new policy is needed, or current policy needs amending.   Simply having me or any one person present an idea to the policy committee for consideration does not allow the full board to work collectively as it was meant to do.  Also, I believe just a few board members having a discussion about a topic, is not fully utilizing the board in the way it was created to work. We are a collective group of 7 board members, with different perspectives, each of us representing constituents.  We have more than 5000 students and adults walking through our school doors and hallways, each one of them with a personal perspective, belief system, political view, and moral foundation.  We are allowed, and should have, these differences. As a public school district, it is our duty to welcome everyone into a safe environment.  One of our strategic goals is to have a safe and caring environment.

The only way that all can feel welcome and safe is by remaining neutral in areas of ideologies and political views. With this in mind, I have concerns that our district does not have guidelines for the speech and displays within our schools. I’ve been told that our teachers can display things like signs and flags in the classrooms, as long as the teaching itself is not biased one way or another, and all aspects of a topic are taught. The constitutional right to free speech allows us as Americans to speak and display what we want in our personal spaces such as homes and vehicles, and even on our children.  However, when working for a public entity that is funded by taxpayers and government, it is of utmost importance that we remain neutral.  This neutrality needs to be reflected in speech, displays, and clothing while working as an Owatonna Public School employee and using the physical property of Owatonna Public Schools.  Requiring our staff, teachers, and physical buildings to remain neutral in areas of ideologies, political views, religion and personal beliefs (including sexuality) does not violate the First Amendment Freedom of Speech rights.  Other districts in Minnesota have taken a “viewpoint neutral” stance and I would like to see Owatonna Public Schools do the same.  I request that the board have this discussion at a future school board meeting.