A little bit of controversy at Osawatomie High School. The Osawatomie Board of Education is debating whether an LGBTQ Pride Flag is considered political and if it violates a District Policy. The Board met last week in a Special Meeting to discus the issue. The issue? A Rainbow Pride flag displayed in a classroom, that the Board says goes against a policy that prohibits Political Activity in the classroom. The Policy is “GBRK” and says staff members are not allowed to use school time, property or school equipment for the purpose of furthering the interests of a political party, campaign or issue.
Some on the Board don’t thing it’s a political issue, others disagree. USD 367 Superintendent, Justin Burchett, read the Motion to the Board:
Burchett said he spoke to the Kansas Association of School Boards’ Legal Staff and they didn’t see it as a blatant advocacy of any political issue; however, the Board plans on seeking legal council on the LGBTQ Pride Flag, if it is a political object and if it created a distraction in the classroom and how to proceed with removing it.
