After discovering that pride flags that had flown on school campuses were taken down over the summer, a group of parents, students, and teachers shared their dismay with the Board of Education at the Aug. 28 school board meeting.
This week PUSD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Hawn sent the following message to the school community, explaining why the rainbow flags were taken down and outlining next steps:
Following the August 28th Board meeting, we have received many questions, opinions, and ideas related to the Pride flag and other ways to create a sense of belonging in our school community.
The Piedmont Unified School District is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all students, staff and families feel a sense of belonging. As part of this commitment, the District flew the Pride Flag during Pride Month in June, to celebrate and support our LGBTQ+ community. After taking the Pride flag down at the end of June, administration and the Board have come to realize that there was a lack of clarity about the intention for how long the flag was to be flown. California law requires School Boards to authorize any flags other than the US and California flags. The Board is currently listening to our community and considering next steps. Over the years, many symbols of belonging for our LGBTQ+ community have been displayed across our campuses, including a permanent mural on the PMS campus and Pride flags in classrooms and other parts of campuses. We are dedicated to creating and supporting an environment where inclusivity and belonging are fundamental to our schools.
Hawn invited the school community to share their thoughts in an online survey.