A section is added to the conduct code that restrict students' freedom of expression when it disrupts school.
By THOMAS C. TOBIN
Published May 26, 2004
The Pinellas School Board on Tuesday tightened the process it uses when students' free speech rights collide with the district's desire to avoid disruptions in school.
By a 7-0 vote, the board added a section called "First Amendment Freedom of Expression" to the district's Code of Student Conduct. It says a principal may restrict a student's freedom of expression "when there is evidence of imminent disruption of the school."
Before taking any action, however, the principal must consult the School Board attorney and notify the superintendent's office, the new policy states.
Those and other changes also make it clear that clothing can be a vehicle for expression and may be banned if officials decide it creates "an environmental climate that is distracting to learning." Previously, the code only addressed whether clothing was "appropriate for school."
The changes are a response to a controversy that erupted in January when Tarpon Springs High School principal Dennis Duda suspended student Krista Abram after she distributed a petition to ban the Confederate flag from campus. Duda said Abrams broke a school rule requiring students to show petitions to administrators first.
Two other racially tinged First Amendment incidents arose earlier this month at Lakewood and Northeast high schools as the board was considering the policy change.
At Lakewood, principal Fred Ulrich suspended student Jainaba Phillips for distributing fliers protesting the recent shooting of 17-year-old Marquell McCullough by Pinellas County sheriff's detectives. The fliers said McCullough had been "executed." When Ulrich asked Phillips to turn over the fliers, she resisted.
At Northeast, principal Michael Miller told a student wearing a T-shirt memorializing McCullough to turn the shirt inside out or wear a jacket over it. The word "revenge" was printed on the back. The student complied.
Board members said the policy changes will give principals clearer guidelines for making decisions on controversial free speech matters.
In a related matter, the board also approved a new policy requiring all elementary schools to establish a Principal's Multicultural Advisory Committee. The committees will be composed of at least 10 student and three adult members representing a cross-section of the school.
Middle and high schools in Pinellas already have multicultural clubs and committees. The policy will "put in place an environment where all ethnic and cultural heritages are welcome and respected," the district said. The groups will be required to initiate at least one multicultural activity a year.
Board member Nancy Bostock said she was concerned the committees would act as "political correctness police" deciding what people can and cannot say.
Board member Mary Russell responded, saying "It's not okay to say certain things."
Other board members argued that the committees would be limited to advisory roles. The measure passed unanimously.
Also Tuesday, the board approved a plan to improve the way it communicates with the public and its employees. The plan potentially would require a budget of $250,000, including a communications director earning up to $87,700 a year.
The board also voted 4-3 to renew its contract for two years with Love of Learning Charter School, and approved the addition of an eighth grade and a name change to Pinellas Preparatory Academy.
