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Committee adopts new flag-display policy requiring U.S. flag in classrooms; minor grade-level wording questioned
Summary
The committee recommended adoption of a new policy requiring display of the U.S. flag in classrooms and allowing a Wisconsin flag at the building administrator's discretion; one member noted an apparent grade-level wording inconsistency in the draft.
The Policy Committee voted to recommend the adoption of a new policy that would require each classroom in district-owned buildings to display the United States flag and allow the Wisconsin state flag at the discretion of the building administrator.
Board President Johnson supported flying both flags and framed the policy as keeping the district focused on shared civic symbols rather than other community flag controversies. "Let's have our flags represent all of us," she said.
Committee discussion noted an apparent inconsistency in the draft: Mrs. Beavers pointed out the policy text referred to grades "5K through 12," while the district's early-learning buildings include 4K. "You've got 5 k through 12, and our buildings are 4 k," Mrs. Beavers said; the committee did not record a substantive correction in the meeting but the comment was noted.
The motion to adopt the new policy (waiving first reading and approving for final reading) was seconded and approved by voice vote; the committee recorded the action as "adoption of policy 323.3 Displaying of Flags" and recommended it to the full board for final action.
The policy packet referenced a state statute (identified in the meeting as 01/2006) requiring U.S. flags in public-school rooms and either reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or singing the national anthem; committee members discussed the practical aim of limiting displays on school property to the U.S. flag and the Wisconsin flag, at administrators' discretion.
