ACLU contacted after Fowlerville Schools becomes latest to pass flag, display policy

FOWLERVILLE — In a 6-1 vote late Tuesday, the Fowlerville Community Schools Board of Education approved a policy eliminating flags and displays that don't appear "content neutral," with minor exceptions.

The policy, in places, is identical to language passed by Hartland Consolidated Schools in June, down to the policy number used. It wasn't immediately clear why or how the districts shared language, but the policy's introduction is part of a recent nationwide push from conservatives to ban LGBTQ+ flags, displays and "safe space" stickers from schools and city-affiliated property — though many board members argue it's simply an effort to maintain neutrality.

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Fowlerville's Diana Dombrowski was the only dissenting vote, urging her fellow board members to table the policy and revisit it later.

"Until we can actually fine tune this and say what's in and what's not and (teachers) are ready to go and put up their stuff — and again this would be for all teachers," she said. "It doesn't really matter what people think about the flag. That would be separate. We've just taken something that teachers do every year and told them that we want to micromanage it."

At last week's board meeting, the policy was presented for a first reading. The language only allows the American flag, the Michigan flag and the current school flag —plus flags or displays used as part of a temporary unit of study within the approved curriculum, sport tournament displays, accomplishments of a school team and/or athlete and displays of college, universities or the military that promote future learning.

The revised and amended policy approved on Tuesday night also allows displays that denote a recognition of achievement and are approved by the superintendent and displays representing student organizations/clubs, which may be placed on a 32-square-foot bulletin board.

FCS Superintendent Matt Stuard clarified there are clubs and student-led groups. Policy 2430 covers district-sponsored clubs, including Future Farmers of America and Robotics.

"Those are supposed to be approved by the district and they're also supposed to be tied to the curriculum in some way, so I would argue that those types of posters could be hung within classrooms," Stuard said.

Policy 5480 covers student-led groups, which are principal-approved and require building approval. Those could only post displays on the 32-square-foot bulletin board, according to Stuard's interpretation.

Dombrowski said she still didn't really understand which posters could go where, and was concerned about telling teachers what they can and cannot put up in their room.

"There are social contracts, posters of authors, movie posters, inspirational posters of all kinds, posters about honesty, artwork, student work, student projects, the cute animal posters, presidents, famous people, posters that are used year-long in classes, landmarks, artistic posters, informational posters, rules and norms," she said.

"Those aren't covered under what we've checked off here. We can say we think they are, but it's not here in black and white."

The policy effectively bans Pride flags and displays, as well as "safe space" stickers — a particular point of contention in Hartland.

Community members weren't quiet Tuesday about their frustrations. For over three hours, members of the community, teachers and students spoke in the Alverson Center for Performing Arts. Members of the audience held up signs of support for the LGBTQ+ community, including a rainbow-colored gladiator head on a poster board.

Prior to the meeting, a plea was posted on the Stand Against Extremism LivCo (SAGE) Advocacy Group on Facebook, urging locals to attend.

"I think the community around us doesn't necessarily understand, because I continue to see (people say) it's about flags," said SAGE organizer Tonya Defever. "Yes, it's about flags, but the much, much bigger picture, if you read the policy ... is every single (student-led) group represented in our school now has their voices taken away.

"It's so much broader than the LGBTQ community or a flag. ... It affects every single group in our school system. Athletics and colleges and universities are in there. ... But I think even more importantly, what people can get behind is, wait a minute, my kid's in chess club and they can't even advertise. They can't even put anything anywhere on school property. That's extreme."

Defever, a longtime Fowlerville resident and substitute teacher, said parents in Fowlerville and Hartland have contacted the American Civil Liberties Union.

"We're communicating regularly and we'll ... work with the ACLU to make sure our students have the representation and rights they deserve," she said.

The Daily is working to confirm reports of ACLU involvement.

SAGE is a local group dedicated to "supporting a safe and inclusive community for all people in Livingston County, regardless of individual identity or political affiliation." SAGE is the parent group to Livingston Integrity, the group's "financial vehicle" to fundraise and campaign for qualified candidates.

More: Ottawa Integrity joins forces with Livingston Integrity to combat 'extremism'

"As we grow, we've realized the need to have separate entities in order to accomplish different objectives," the group wrote on Facebook. "Some things just can’t be done as a PAC and therefore having our advocacy group (SAGE) separate comes into play. Up to this point, SAGE has only been a private organizing and action group."

Fowlerville Resident Patricia Wood shared statistics from The Trevor Project during the meeting Tuesday.

"A vote to implement this policy removes that support with the opportunity for one of your students to see that they matter and sensitively choose to do more and what could happen," she said. "Think about a 40 percent increase in suicide rates for these students that you're turning your back on."

Fowlerville High School ELA teacher Mariam Mangan, Spanish teacher Alicia Zemper and other students also spoke against approval.

"These are some of the things I love most about this school," said FHS Junior Owen Smith. "The community and clubs that it brings the community and the folks that bring us together are essential. I hope the rule can be redrafted or amended so it's truly inclusive to all students. ... You must think about who this policy is harming."

Others were in full support of the policy, arguing people can be loved with or without a flag. Some said the American flag supports everyone. Others felt school should be an environment of learning and argued conversations about sexuality should take place at home.

"The LGBTQ community makes up a small, tiny fraction of the community," Evan Ashton said. "Public schools should have one goal, and that's to prepare students for their careers and be productive members of society. Public schools have never been a culture for students to find themselves. Children are dependent. They are dependent upon us because we should have fully developed brains to guide as parents and the school should guide them into a career, not sexuality.

"The social justice movement separates and divides people. United we stand, divided we fall. One flag is all the country needs. We shouldn't have political flags at school and there's no doubt the rainbow is viewed internationally as a political symbol and political statement."

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District One Livingston County Commissioner Doug Helzerman attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the policy.

"The rainbow needs sunlight and it needs water. Who made the sunlight and the water? If you're using the rainbow as your symbol, I think that movement needs to examine themselves to see that they're a religion," he said.

Livingston County recently tightened down on communications of its own after a promotion of local Pride Month events appeared in a newsletter from its Human Services Collaborative Body.

Commissioners passed a resolution Monday, June 12, saying county-appointed entities cannot promote private events or activities outside the scope of the entity's mission.

With the decision made in Fowlerville, Defever worries it'll spread to other school districts in the county.

"Absolutely," she said. "Because I think we're seeing this on a national level as well."

— Contact reporter Patricia Alvord at palvord@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: ACLU contacted after Fowlerville Schools becomes latest to pass flag, display policy