Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts policy limiting flagpole displays to U.S. and California flags, delegates on‑site decisions to superintendent
Summary
Following earlier community discussion, the board adopted revised Policy 6115 and Exhibit 6115 establishing flag‑display guidelines: the single campus flagpole will display only the U.S. and California flags except when the board itself authorizes otherwise; other on‑site displays are delegated to the superintendent’s discretion.
The board considered an update to Board Policy 6115 (Ceremonies and Observances) and a new Exhibit 6115 establishing guidelines for flag and banner requests. Staff framed the draft as a compromise reflecting community input and consistent with district mission criteria; the draft mirrored a model from a neighboring district and limited requests to student groups and district stakeholders aligned with the district’s mission and student learning outcomes. The policy explicitly states the district’s single flagpole should display only the U.S. and California flags unless the governing board directs otherwise, and it clarifies that the superintendent will determine other on‑site displays in his or her reasonable discretion while also recognizing constitutionally protected free speech for teachers, staff and students.
Trustees supported the transparency of a separate exhibit and the delegation to the superintendent; a motion to adopt Policy 6115, AR 6115 and Exhibit 6115 passed with no recorded dissents. Trustees also agreed not to require a second reading given the history and community engagement on the issue.
