Unified School District of De Pere
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Published – June 13, 2024
The Unified School District of De Pere (USDDP) unanimously passed a policy to remove LGBTQ+ flags from school grounds.
In August 2022, UpNorth News reported, “The DePere School Board has delayed a decision on a proposal to restrict LGBTQ Pride flags from being displayed in district buildings. The proposed policy would limit flag displays to the US flag, the Wisconsin state flag, the flag for a municipality where a school building is located, and the Prisoners of War-Missing in Action (POW-MIA) flag.”
The school board members tabled the August vote to discuss the issue further at the September 18 meeting.
The September 18 meeting summary shows that a “Third Reading and Motion to Approve the New Flag Policy” was added to the agenda. The policy language was updated to say:
“All other flags being displayed on behalf of the School District require the prior approval of the Board of Education to be flown outside a building displayed anywhere on school property.”
Meeting minutes reveal that the policy was passed 5-0 with Board President Adam Clayton abstaining. Despite this constitutional decision, in November 2022, the district updated an administrative policy to include “gender-neutral” pronouns.
Hyper Local Press Times said, “[USDDP] … approved several wording changes to its administrative policy manual. Included is changing from the general use of ‘his/her’ to ‘their.’ Board Member Brittony Cartwright said she didn’t feel the change was necessary, and board Member Chad Jeskewitz said that feedback he had received on the topic led him to not be in favor of it, either.”
The source continued, “Superintendent Chris Thompson said publication style manuals, such as the one most colleges use, are making the change to their [sic] because it includes everyone.”
The School Board Watchlist was unable to confirm whether transgender ideology is practiced on campus (e.g. sports teams, bathrooms) but will continue monitoring this district.
Please send tips, updates, and information on the Unified School District of De Pere to [email protected].
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The Unified School District of De Pere has 4,555 students enrolled in Pre-K through 12 across six schools.
