De Pere school board proposes policy limiting which flags are displayed on school grounds
DE PERE – The controversy over flying the LGBTQ+ Pride flag has moved south, from Green Bay into De Pere, this time cropping up at a school board meeting Monday evening.
In its second reading, the De Pere School Board discussed a new policy that would potentially restrict which flags can be displayed on school property without explicit approval of the board.
The proposed policy unequivocally reserves the right to post the U.S. flag in a prominent place in all classrooms and on school property. Other flags that may be flown outside De Pere public school buildings, according to the policy proposal, include the Wisconsin flag, the municipal flag associated with the school location, the school district flag and flags representing U.S. military prisoners of war-missing in action (POW‒MIA).
Although the De Pere board planned to vote on the policy Monday, it tabled any action until the Sept. 18 meeting after hearing from a crowded room both for and against the new policy.
Tamara Gasparick of De Pere — a member-at-large with the Republican Party of Brown County — was among members of the public who spoke in support of the new policy, calling it "inappropriate" for other flags representing various political movements, religions or other ideologies to be displayed in public education settings.
Before the flag policy discussion, the Republican Party of Brown County sent a message to its members to "stand up against the liberal propaganda machine now" and attend the board meeting "regardless if you live in De Pere or elsewhere."
"This is a great opportunity to show support for our conservative school board members who will be voting for the patriotic flag policy," the letter said.
Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, chair of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay who also lives in De Pere, spoke against the policy, arguing that safe space signs and Pride flags "signify that every corner of our school is welcoming and secure for all students regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
According to the 2021 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which is a self-administered questionnaire taken by high school students from grades nine to 12, nearly half of students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans have considered suicide, compared to 11% of straight, cisgendered students. LGBT students are far likelier to develop a plan and attempt suicide, too.
These students have some of the highest "suicidality help gaps" among their peers, meaning these students are less likely to know who to turn to when experiencing emotional distress.
Additionally, LGBT students are more than twice as likely to experience bullying than straight, cisgendered students, whether on school property, online or a mix of both, the survey said.
LGBT students have fewer supports and protective factors in place as they also endure more challenges. Unsurprisingly, these students have some of the highest rates of mental health concerns.
One student who spoke at Monday evening's board meeting said they have witnessed LGBTQ+ students endure harassment and bullying at both the individual and systematic levels in their school and community.
"This resolution is not a matter of indoctrination or even of representation. It is a question of comfort and decency," they said.
Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: De Pere school board flag policy could limit flags
