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Hauppauge resident raises concerns about pro‑Palestine flyer; board says flyer was not district‑approved and was removed
Summary
A community member accused a flyer supporting Palestine of appearing in district spaces; the board told the Jan. 14 meeting the flyer was not approved or endorsed by the district and was taken down, and invited community members to organize a forum to discuss concerns.
At the Jan. 14 Hauppauge Union Free School District board meeting, community member Scott Lee Braver said flyers supporting Palestine had appeared in district spaces and described feeling unsafe; he urged the district to address the matter publicly.
Braver raised historical context and personal concerns, saying the flyers’ imagery was inappropriate and that district approval had not been sought. "That flyer was not signed to door or approved by the district," a board representative replied during public comment, telling the meeting the flyer was not affiliated with or endorsed by the district and had likely been removed.
Nut graf: The exchange came during the board’s public‑comment period and included appeals for community dialogue. Board members encouraged organizers to bring proposals to the district and offered the meetings as an open public forum for community input, while reminding speakers that school security details are not discussed openly in public sessions.
Transcript excerpts show the district acknowledged learning about the flyer the previous evening and said it had been removed. A board member told the meeting, "That imagery on that flyer was not appropriate," and emphasized the flyer was not district‑approved. The district invited community groups to propose a public forum or presentation at a future meeting.
Discussion vs. decision: The board made no formal policy change nor a formal vote related to the flyer at the Jan. 14 meeting. Board members suggested the community may organize presentations at future meetings and said public comments are welcomed; the transcript also shows the administration declined to discuss security specifics in open session and asked anyone with security concerns to speak privately with the superintendent.
Clarifying details: The board stated the flyer was not district‑approved and had been removed; the meeting record does not specify who posted the flyer, which locations it appeared in, or whether the flyer contained specific organizational contact information. The board said it would welcome community members who want to organize a forum or present materials at a future meeting.
Ending: The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Jan. 28, 2025, and encouraged community members to collaborate with district staff if they wish to arrange a public discussion on the matter.
