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Piedmont board directs superintendent to fly progress‑pride flag year‑round after months of debate
Summary
After months of community concern about a pride flag taken down after June, the Piedmont school board directed the superintendent to display the progress-pride flag year‑round at all district campuses and asked staff to pursue policy language to formalize the change.
The Piedmont Unified School District board on Oct. 9 directed the superintendent to fly the progress‑pride flag year‑round at all school sites, after a months‑long controversy over the flag being left up beyond June and then removed.
Chair opened the discussion by apologizing for the harm caused when flags were left up at some sites beyond the June timeframe and then taken down. Dr. Hahn asked the board for clear direction, saying the decision about flags rests with the board and staff would follow the board’s guidance.
Trustee Ruchi Medikar said the public reaction to the removal “caused a great amount of fear and concern in the community,” and urged clearer communication. Trustee Hillary Cooper said the district had set a precedent by flying the flag before and that removing it sent a mixed message: “The queer community is queer all year round, not just in June,” she said.
Multiple student board members and dozens of public commenters pressed for the return of the flag, citing mental‑health and safety concerns for LGBTQ+ youth. Student speaker Mimi Crawford Jakubiak said, “Be kind and do the right thing. Please vote to return the pride flags to all our campuses so that they once again fly year round.” Dr. Jim Crawford Jakubiak, a pediatrician, said the flags sent an “unmistakable affirmative statement” that the district is a safe place for queer students and families.
After extended public comment and trustee discussion about broader anti‑bias work, the board’s direction to the superintendent was to restore the progress‑pride flag at all schools year‑round; Dr. Hahn said she would begin work the following morning. Board members also requested that staff draft formal policy language for a future board to consider so the practice could be institutionalized rather than implemented only by direction from the current board.
The board emphasized that flying a flag is only one step and that it must be paired with training, accountability and curriculum work to reduce day‑to‑day harassment and to reinforce a culture of belonging.
