KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education has approved a new policy that will outline what flags and other displays, other than the U.S. and state flags, will be acceptable on its campuses as it relates to its curriculum.

The policy that was presented to the school board at its Oct. 21 meeting was Policy 4.400, which stated that, other than the flags of the United States and the state of Tennessee, any flag, banner, pendant, sign, etc., on any/all campuses are prohibited from displayed unless it was directly related to the curriculum, a school sanctioned event or program.

The topic of the potential policy caused a stir on social media, particularly with some connecting to the recent controversy of Tullahoma High School teacher Dr. Monica Blake-Beasley, who was reprimanded for her online posts regarding the death of political activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, as she was also scrutinized for allegedly having an LGBTQ+ flag displayed in her classroom. This would lead to an online petition to only allow the American and Tennessee flags in the classroom by former Tullahoma alderman Daniel Berry, which received over 600 signatures before the meeting.

Individuals address the board

Once the October meeting got underway, one at a time, 15 individuals were given time to address the board on any action item on the agenda, which included policy updates. The few public comments addressed the board about the flag policy and issue, but addressed that the flag policy should have been particularly noted on the agenda, and a draft of the policy should have been made available to view, similarly to how both the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Tullahoma Planning Commission have their agenda packets, including attachments, available on their respective websites.

Berry also addressed the board about the issue and stated that taxpayer funded classrooms should only have displays, and symbols should remain neutral and focus on education, rather than representing social or political movements.

“The question is about policy and not personality,” Berry said. “It’s about whether we want a learning environment that unites our students or wanting to divide by ideology. Every student, regardless of background or belief, should walk into a classroom that’s focused on learning.”

He continued and said that when a classroom displayed a pride flag, a Trump flag, or a religious symbol, it was no longer a neutral space, and it sent a message that one belief system has institutional approval over another. And since the board sets policy, the approval of these flags or symbols would carry the endorsement of the entire board. Berry said both the American and Tennessee flags already represented everyone and united every student and their family under one group.

“Once we allow one cause flag, we have to allow them all, we can’t say yes to one movement, not to deny that’s not sustainable and not fair,” Berry said.

He said while he knew some would be making emotional appeals, which he stated he respected, everyone cared about the safety and needs of students. But he said a flag doesn’t create safe spaces, and it won’t stop holding people accountable.

“If the goal is to support students, let’s invest in counseling, peer membership, and teacher training, not symbols that divide our community along with social and critical life,” Berry said. “This isn’t about exclusion, it’s about fairness. Classrooms should be a place where students can learn without being told what to think or who to support.”

He concluded his comments by asking the board to reaffirm that the classroom is for education and to keep them neutral.

Shortly after his statements, the other half of the public comments spoke against having the policy that would force the removal of the LGBTQ+ flag. Some of the commenters included graduates from Tullahoma High School who were members of the LGBTQ+ community who shared their experiences of discrimination, which included a callback to 2019 when a Coffee County student committed suicide after being outed online. Several of these commentators shared that the LGBTQ+ flag was not a flag of division and to single out others, but rather it was a message of unity and welcoming others. Other former students, like Avory McQueen, shared that they were taught by Blake-Beasley and praised her for her inclusivity and allowed students from any political, cultural, or religious beliefs to speak their minds respectfully. McQueen said that the pride flag didn’t interrupt or distract from learning more than any other flag, and that it showed students that there was a safe place in the classroom and teachers to go to when they feel like they don’t have a voice.  

“There are safe spaces in our school, and we cannot afford to lose any more students, that is the worst possible scenario,” McQueen said. “If a flag is what it takes to keep one more student alive, it will be worth it.”

Also there to speak was the Chairman of the Coffee County Democratic Party Mike Stein. Stein addressed the board and said growing up, he never experienced any kind of resistance for who he could love or marry, like the LGBTQ+ community experiences.

“Life is a ton easier when you’re living a life that is generally accepted by those around you,” Stein said. “The truth of the matter is that having different beliefs of any kind in this community is dangerous.”

He then referred to the social media chatter leading up to the meeting, where he alleged that one citizen publicly threatened to get a group of parents to storm the high school “in the style of January 6^th” and remove any pride flag present. He continued and said the pride flag symbolized inclusion and affirmation, not advocacy for a specific belief system, which he used the Confederate flag as an example, and said the proposed policy to only allow the American and state flags would be a slap in the face to a marginalized community.

Former Tullahoma Fire Chief Richard Shasteen also addressed the board, and said one of his concerns was that they were children in the high school that don’t feel safe.

“I think we need to address that head-on to find out what’s going on and why kids don’t feel safe,” he said. “Why there’s only what I’m hearing, one room technically where they feel safe. That’s absurd. All children should feel safe in our schools.”

His other concern was “opening the door” and stating that the people who wanted the pride flag weren’t bad people, but they weren’t looking at the whole picture of what that flag could open up, which could have a negative impact towards the children.

“I’m just concerned, but I’m trusting the board,” Shasteen said. “I’m trusting that all of you do the right thing, what’s best for all the children, and I am concerned about why kids don’t feel safe at the high school.”

The final person to speak was Mary Beth Smith, who served as the youth and family minister at Trinity Lutheran Church. She said as a community, they all want the schools to be places where students feel safe, respected, and supported. She added that statistically, 9.3% of the population is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, so out of the 1,100 students at THS, about 100 of those students would be a part of this community. She continued and said that the pride flag was a symbol of inclusion, diversity, human dignity, and safety.

“It is not a political statement. It is a human one,” she said. “Yes. 100% of heterosexual students who see this flag will not turn gay.”

She continued and said from a faith perspective, this issue was following Jesus’s teachings to show compassion, care, and concern for one’s neighbor, especially those who are most vulnerable.

“I hope your conscience will towards compassion,” Smith said. “Do not ban the pride flag. Ensure THS remains safe with the 100 LGBTQ students there. Let this silent symbol communicate to them that they belong in this community and that we are all truly better together.”

The vote on the policy

After thanking everyone for making their comments, the board continued down its agenda until it got to policy updates. Board member Gigi Robison introduced Policy 4.400 for a first and final reading. After the motion was approved for discussion, board member Rosie Graham shared that this policy did not come lightly as it had been worked on for over a month and involved the school district attorney, the administration and school leadership to help come up with what she felt was a comprehensive policy.

“It’s a comprehensive policy that doesn’t just say, ‘we’re going to put up two flags and two flags.’ It is a policy that deals with flags, banners, posters on walls, and we’re going to ask that our instructors go through and look at all of that,” Graham said. “If it is not involved with curriculum, the things that are involved in the classroom, then we will be considering taking that.”

Board member Pat Welsh read the policy out loud for everyone in attendance. After reading the policy, he asked about the timeline for implementation. Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens said if the policy was approved as is or received modifications, they would train the leadership team when they met later in the month. Then, the leadership team would work with the principals and assistant principals on training them and their staff on the policy, and make sure they are adhering to the policy. Stephens said it would take some time to fully implement the policy, and hoped it would be into the second semester to be in full effect.

Robison talked a little more about the process to come up with the policy, noting that the administrators from all school levels and the school system tried to look at all the repercussions from formulating a policy, which she thanked them for doing. She then said that during a study session, they looked at two school systems, Coffee County and Tipton County, which had a similar policy to what was being proposed.

When asked for further discussion, board member Broc Compton said that when he and his family moved to Tullahoma, they loved the schools and praised the system for the excellent job of including everyone. He then addressed the audience and said that the board loves the TCS students, the teachers love their students, and they do an excellent job and want no one to feel unsafe in the classroom.

“Kids need to know that the teachers are there for them, the administrators are there for them, the principals are there for them,” Compton said. “The community supports them no matter who they are, no matter what their beliefs are. You’re all part of Tullahoma, part of Tennessee, part of America, right? That’s what makes us so great.”

He continued and said the policy presented was a good policy that encompassed everything, where classrooms can have banners and flags that relate to the curriculum. He added that what mattered most was encouraging kids to be the best they can be.

“If anybody feels excluded, or looked down on, or made to feel like they’re less than, they need to go to the principal or to the guidance counselor, and they need to bring it up because that’s, that can’t happen,” Compton said. “Every kid is special. Every person that is important, and you are all American. We’re all Tennesseans. We’re all Tullahoma.”

Compton said if anything was going on and it was not getting reported because of fear of retaliation, which was mentioned earlier in public comments, he encouraged them to contact him, members of the board and Stephens directly.

“We’re here for you and so are the administration and the teachers,” Compton said. “So please let us know if there’s any discrimination or anything like that because we will not have that. I’ll not have that.”

Board member Andy Whitt echoed Compton’s sentiment and said the board wants kids to feel safe in school and to be in a good spot. He added that they want to be curriculum focused, so their goal was to make the policy curriculum focused, but also flexible as they realized they wanted to be broader than just flags.

“This isn’t really singling anything out,” Whitt said. “In fact, when you’re working with policy, you want your policy to be as neutral as possible, and I think this one is very neutral. It’s one that I think our administration can work with, implement, and just maintain the schools the way we can for the maximum educational environment.”

Before the vote, the board also thanked everyone in attendance for taking the time to address them, as well as reaching out via emails, texts and phone calls. With no further discussion, the school board unanimously approved board policy 4.400 on a first and final reading. The policy will go to the Tennessee School Board Association to be looked over and receive final approval.