WORTHINGTON, Minn. — After months of deliberation, the District 518 Board of Education voted Tuesday to revise a policy and remove two "controversial" flags from a Worthington high school classroom.
The district, which encompasses elementary and high schools in Worthington, voted unanimously on Tuesday, Jan. 16, in favor of revising policy 606, which outlines a procedure for addressing controversial or problematic items.
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Policy 606 review committee member Becca McGaughey explained the process, which aimed to provide a way for parents and guardians to have concerns reviewed diplomatically.
“It goes through the steps, it goes through the committees, ultimately it ends here," she told the board. "If there’s an objection, the objector can take that to the next level, where the end answer is in (the school board’s) hands.”
Approval of the revised policy then led to the board being asked to make a decision regarding two specific flags that were displayed in a high school science classroom. The flags — one of the teacher's home territory of Puerto Rico, and the other a Pride flag with the message "Everyone is welcome here" — were by a parent, who took the issue to District 518 Superintendent John Landgaard shortly after the start of the 2023-24 school year.
After nearly four months of discussion, the board voted 4-1 on Tuesday to remove the banner from Dr. José Morales Callazo’s classroom. The Puerto Rican flag will also be removed, with only the U.S. and Minnesota flags to be allowed in classrooms moving forward. Teachers may still display the flag of their alma mater — something that has always been allowed, Landgaard said.
Board member Erin Schutte Wadzinski asked for the reasoning behind removing the two flags, to which Landgaard responded: “They are deemed as a potential controversial topic or issue or item. And that’s where the complaint came from.”
When asked by Schutte Wadzinski if the complaint was just about the Pride flag, Landgaard confirmed that was correct.
Schutte Wadzinski asked, “How is the Puerto Rican flag controversial?”
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“It’s been a social issue of what has been controversial,” Landgaard responded.
“It’s not part of our curriculum, and that’s the other side of it. It’s not curriculum. That’s what the decision is based on.”
“My line of questioning is to understand why not have these flags up? Or these posters on the walls? What’s wrong with them?” Schutte Wadzinski said. “If it’s a balancing test, I think there’s more good than harm being done to have something on the walls saying ‘everyone is welcome here.’ ”
Schutte Wadzinski also said these types of decisions could potentially impact the district's ability to retain or hire staff in the future and noted potential mental health concerns for students.
Collazo, a high school science teacher, has tendered his resignation, effective at the end of the school year.
If it’s a balancing test, I think there’s more good than harm being done to have something on the walls saying "Every One is Welcome Here."
“I think the appropriate flags should be the United States flag and the state of Minnesota flag,” said board member Stephen Schneider. “If we go to Iowa, I don’t expect them to be flying Minnesota flags. I don’t have anything against people wanting to bring their flags somewhere, but I think in a public building, the state flag and the U.S. flag are the ones we fly.”
Schutte Wadzinski said she thinks the district's students feel marginalized and need a space where they are welcome. She said the Pride flag in Callazo’s classroom may be a way to identify a source of support for those students.
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"It’s not obvious necessarily, in school, who is an ally, and in southwest Minnesota, not everybody is,” Schutte Wadzinski said.
"Bullying has been happening for decades, centuries. It isn’t right, never has been right, and it shouldn’t be permitted," Schneider responded. "I don’t see how flying flags fixes that problem, nor is it necessary for us to be doing this.”
Board member Lori Dudley said it was a matter of public feedback, not the board members' personal viewpoints.
"I had several people say they were uncomfortable about a Pride flag being flown. It’s not about what I think,” she said. “At this point, we have a complaint about a particular flag, not everyone is comfortable. It’s controversial in some people’s minds.”
“I agree with people’s desire to want it to be easier for students to understand who supports,” Schneider said. “I don’t have the complete answer, but we should be working together to find a way to do that.”
One example he shared was that these teachers could wear lapel pins or other jewelry to express their support.
Adam Blume and Landgaard both expressed frustration over how the situation had been “Blown well past what it should be.” Blume was particularly upset about how much time was dedicated to the issue when comprehension scores have been plummeting — something he said should be getting more attention.
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Ultimately, Blume, Schneider, Dudley and Board Chairman Joel Lorenz voted for the removal of the banner, while Schutte Wadzinski voted in opposition. Board members Matt Widboom and Tom Prins were not present for the vote.