In October 2023, a Black Lives Matter flag was removed by an unauthorized parent in the High School cafeteria, sparking then-acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta to authorize the School Committee to look into its policy on flag display and removal, only to find that it did not have one.
Less than a month later, the committee drafted a policy that would give it full say on what flags or banners can be displayed on school grounds aside from the American, state, and town flags. The policy immediately drew concern from parents, students, and community members that it would restrict students’ freedom of speech.
The policy was drafted without any student feedback or input, which has raised questions regarding student censorship and the intentions behind the creation of the policy.
Even initial conversations held during an Oct. 27 Policy Subcommittee meeting, chaired by Jenn Schaeffner, were held at 12 p.m. on a Friday, during school hours. That prompted students to respond with a letter to the School Committee expressing their frustrations.
Students also spoke directly to members at the committee’s next meeting following the Policy Subcommittee.
“We were disappointed because this issue was directly related to us as students, and we feel students should be more included in the process more formally and more fully,” one student said.
During a Nov. 16 meeting, Schaeffner did acknowledge that the committee had received “communication from a number of students” regarding the policy, and added that it would be beneficial to meet with students to hear their feedback.
“I talked about maybe there’s some opportunities for us to get out to the schools, probably the high school, but maybe the middle school too and have an opportunity to hear from the students directly,” Schaeffner said.
Though the committee has not officially adopted the policy, its first draft was discussed at a Nov. 29 Policy Subcommittee meeting. The first conversations between committee members and students did not occur until early January after students, parents, and other community members gathered outside of the Jacobi Community Center to protest the proposed policy and advocate for more student input.
So far, two listening sessions have taken place between committee members and students, however parents and reporters were barred from attending. It remains to be seen if the listening sessions will have any impact on a redraft or an amendment to the current drafted policy.
Sophia Weiner, co-president of the Marblehead High School Democrats, the organization that organized the protest, said that student input is vital in the creation of the policy, because School Committee members don’t attend classes.
“No one in the School Committee goes to our schools, so they don’t know what it’s like to be a high-school student at Marblehead High School. I think it really should be up to us,” Weiner said.
The BLM flag was first displayed in the High School during Superintendent John Buckey’s tenure. Buckey had made an effort since coming into the district to make Marblehead, which is 97% white, an anti-racist community.
In 2021, a petition to remove the flag from the school gained more than 100 signatures, though Buckey announced that the flag would not be taken down. Two months after he left the district, the flag was taken down and the new flag policy was drafted.
The parent, who has been identified as Sharman Pollander, faced no consequences for entering the school and taking down the flag without authorization.
The drafted policy states that if a group, organization, or individual wishes to place a sign, banner, or flag on “Marblehead Public Schools buildings, grounds, transportation vehicles, or other property,” a written request to the committee must be made, in addition to a picture, photo, or drawing of the “proposed item” with all measurements and colors.
Even if signage is approved, it can only remain on display for a maximum of one month.
The questions involving censorship haven’t stopped with the high school and its students.
The Marblehead Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, which is chaired by Schaeffner, has also recently discussed adopting a flag policy of its own, despite the board’s counsel advising against it.
Some parents who have been vocally opposed to the committee’s recent decisions have said that others are afraid to speak up due to a fear of retaliation.
Parent Mimi Lemay, in an interview, even alleged that others have been called names for raising concerns.
“There has been a clear narrative circulating, that if you share concern about actions taken by our School Committee, or the manner in which they’ve been taken, and even if those concerns are shared civilly, that you are a ‘bully,’” Lemay said.
However she added that she feels the real bullying may be taking place on the other side.
“Being labeled a ‘bully’, a ‘mean girl’ — don’t laugh, it’s true! — or a ‘goon’ has the ironic effect of making those of us who would like to take part in the democratic process in our town feel intimidated, which is why those labels have been deployed,” she said.