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Board meets with students after mascot rumors; administration to send clarifying communication
Summary
Students raised concerns and circulated a petition about mascot imagery; administrators met with student leaders and the board said it will publish a clarification to the community by the end of the week. A public commenter criticized allowing student protests during school hours.
Board members addressed student-led petitioning and protest activity during the Feb. 17 meeting, saying administrators met with student leaders and would follow up with a communication to the community to clarify misinformation.
Board members said they received emails and a petition from students worried about mascot imagery. Doctor Uecker (school administration) met with student leaders and the administration said the conversation was productive. The board said a larger public communication would be issued to resolve rumors.
Several board members praised the students for expressing concerns respectfully. "Students finding their voice and learning how to advocate — I appreciate that kind of leadership," Miss Steele said, referencing civics education and the Tinker v. Des Moines standard that governs student expression.
At public comment, Jamal of Worcester objected to on-campus, in-school protests, calling school time the wrong forum for political activity and arguing the district should be nonpartisan. Board members said they would review policies and continue to balance student expression and classroom continuity.
Administration set a target to send community clarification by the end of the week and said they would continue meetings with student leaders and follow-up communications.
