HOOD RIVER — Hood River County School District (HRCSD) board of directors held a work session Oct. 8, in part to review two draft documents designed to “establish guiding principles for when and how the school district issues public statements, ensuing we maintain a unified and legally sound voice,” said Superintendent Bill Newton.
Bill Newton, Hood River County School District superintendent
The documents were drafted in response to community feedback and discussions about the current social and political environment, with the aim of ensuring the school district can effectively support and provide guidance for its staff and students while maintaining its focus on education, he said in a follow up email. Newton walked the board through “district statements on social issues, events, and tragedies,” and “staff communication guidelines,” which will eventually be used as training tools.
Some key points: The district is nonpartisan and must foster respectful discussions; it will never be neutral on matters of discrimination, harassment, or hate; and public statements are generally reserved for situations that directly impact school operations, safety, or inclusion concerns.
The board noted several times that these are guidelines and not policies, though they did recommend referencing the policies within the documents. They also recommended sharing the drafts with representatives of licensed and classified staff, the Oregon School Board Association, and lawyers to ensure the district is not infringing on constitutional rights.
Chrissy Reitz, Hood River County School District Board chair
“I would err on the side of going slow and getting something like this right” before pushing the documents out before staff and the community, said Board Chair Chrissy Reitz.
This is a continuing process; the story will be updated as information becomes available.
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