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Date: 2/14/2023
BELCHERTOWN – “I do not think the pride flag belongs to be flown in the courtyard,” a Belchertown School parent stated.
Scott Day met with the School Committee at its Feb. 7 meeting to express his concerns over a flag celebrating the LGBTQ+ movement being flown on school grounds.
“I don’t have anything against gay people or anybody. I love all people so let’s get that out there first. I just do not think it should be flying in the courtyard because it separates gay from straight,” Day added.
The parent continued to add points to his arguments by stating the students’ main goal in school should be to learn and not wonder why a certain flag is being flown and not every flag.
Day said, “I know there is a gay-straight alliance. I think they should make a nice banner to say my school has a gay-straight alliance. By that reasoning, a confederate flag, Trump flag, Christian flag, Biden flag or all of them must fly.”
The parent gave the School Committee two articles relating to stories in Boston and New Jersey where certain organizations’ flag being flown caused some controversy.
“We are adults. I should not have to be here, and I do not want to be here. As adults it is our responsibility to make the kids feel safe, not a flag,” Day added.
The Belchertown Select Board just recently approved a flag policy for the flag poles in front of Town Hall that stated, “A ceremonial flag can be flown if approved by the Select Board and meets the standards in the policy. Ceremonial flags that can be displayed by the town of Belchertown are flags of governments recognized by the United States and flags displayed in conjunction with official proclamations.”
School Committee Chair Heidi Gutekenst said that she has talked to Select Board Chair Jim Barry and looked at the Norton Public Schools flag signage to help draft a Belchertown schools flag policy.
The draft reads: “The Belchertown Public Schools (“BPS”) shall not permit any individual or group, other than school administrators and approved student groups as set forth herein, to place any sign, banner, flag, advertisement, promotional/marketing material or other such items anywhere on BPS buildings, grounds, transportation vehicles, or other property.
“BPS administrators or approved student groups may be permitted to place such items on BPS premises, on the following conditions: Any such items must relate to or be in the furtherance of the district’s educational goals, programs, activities, or events; and any such items must be approved in advance by a building principal, the superintendent of schools, or the School Committee, as appropriate under the circumstances. Final decision-making regarding any such items shall be at the School Committee’s sole discretion.”
Superintendent Brian Cameron added he put the School Committee in the policy to have as many viewpoints as possible.
If the policy is approved, any group who is looking to hang up a flag or banner will have to present a picture of the flag, where they want to place it and their purposes for hanging it.
Gutekenst said that she would like to allow time for the committee members and public to view the policy before voting on it at either the Feb. 28 or March 7 School Committee meeting.