Pittsfield School Committee Delays Flag Policy Vote
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee needs more time with the proposed flag policy before a vote.
On Wednesday, they forwarded it back to the policy subcommittee for more discussion. Legal counsel was concerned that allowing "flags commemorating significant events or causes consistent with the school district's official sentiments" could open the doors for a lawsuit.
"We can say this isn't a public forum, but if the School Committee gets to put up whatever it wants to, and nobody else can, I think we're open to charge that we're giving preferential treatment to certain political or policy perspectives," Chair William Cameron said.
Brought forward by School Committee member William Garrity, this policy is based on a model from the Framingham Public Schools with language from the flag ordinance approved by the City Council. He said districts are recommended to have a resolution or policy on flag protocols.
As forwarded, the policy allows Pittsfield's flag, the United States flag, flags of other nations recognized by the U.S. government, and flags commemorating significant events or causes consistent with the school district's official sentiments.
Some districts display LGBTQ+ and disability pride flags.
The policy establishes the Pittsfield Public School's guidelines "for the display of flags of governments recognized by the Federal Government, and other flags on the school district property," it reads. It directs classrooms, auditoriums, and "other appropriate indoor locations" in school buildings to fly the American flag, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag to be flown in all auditoriums.
"Basically, the purpose would be following the city ordinance that just passed at City Council regarding flagpoles on the school property," Garrity explained.
The council recently ordained a flag display policy allowing Pittsfield's flag, the United States and commonwealth flags, flags of other nations recognized by the U.S. government, and flags commemorating significant events or causes consistent with the city's values and mission.
Reportedly, this ordinance doesn't automatically apply to the school district.
At the Policy Subcommittee meeting earlier this month, the schools' flag guidelines were forwarded to the School Committee with an amendment to have flag decisions made by the committee and the superintendent, rather than just the superintendent.
Garrity reported that the district's counsel was concerned about allowing other flags that align with the Pittsfield Public Schools' sentiments, fearing viewpoint discrimination charges. This remains a concern, even after further amending it to instead allow "other flags as approved by a vote of the School Committee."
Cameron, who was included in the exchange with school attorney Russell Dupere, agreed that other flags shouldn't be allowed in the policy. He reported that a community member on the phone threatened to have the Confederate flag flown at all public buildings.
"I did receive a phone call today. It's from someone who calls me not infrequently. I believe this is the sixth time that I've received a phone call from this individual who, after insulting me and other members of the School Committee, stated that she wanted to ensure that a Confederate flag be flown out of all public buildings, and failure to do this would be discrimination against white people," he said.
"… If we want to entertain or have to deal with people who have views that may not be shared by members of the School Committee, we need, I think, to follow the legal counsel and not have ‘official sentiments,' or whatever the term is. I think it's best if we say, you can fly flags X, Y, and Z, and that's it."
Garrity motioned to refer it back to the subcommittee for more discussion.
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