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The Hollidaysburg Area School Board recently voted unanimously to change the language in Personnel Policy 321.
One change states "Staff members/volunteers or third-party contractors shall not display any flag, banner, poster, sign, sticker, pin, button, insignia, paraphernalia, photograph, or other similar material that advocates concerning any partisan, political, religious, or social policy issue including sexual orientation or gender identity."
A quick Google search of 'top social policy issues today' includes the very broad categories of the social safety net, health care, civil rights, immigration enforcement and AI.
Picture it: the superintendent patrolling classrooms searching for rainbow stickers that support kindness and inclusion, looking for posters of key historical/political figures like Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, as well as making note of any signage about safety social net programs, like Medicaid and SNAP. When found, teachers and staff could be fired, and volunteers asked to leave.
The school board has obviously spent quite a bit of time discussing, reviewing and implementing this. But, clearly, not spending anywhere near the same diligence in devising fiscally responsible plans to address the district's funding shortfall, or implementing creative means to hire and retain qualified teachers.
Instead of being able to put forth a full and comprehensive effort to overcome school budget woes and staffing inadequacies, the school superintendent will be tasked with determining whether the rainbow pin or sticker a teacher, staff member, or volunteer is wearing is from the latest Care Bears Movie, or as a symbol to all students that they matter.
Krista Murphy
Hollidaysburg