OPRF Board of Ed said No... but in a legalese kind of way without any urgency for today's climate.

No spin: OPRF Board of Ed's response to the Civil Discourse and Critical Thinking Statement petition and my response back: 

"Ross,

In response to your request to adopt the language forwarded, this would entail modifying existing or creating new policy, which is one of the duties of a BOE. 

There is ongoing review of existing policy review by the BOE. Additionally, the BOE identifies certain policy areas each year to focus on. This past school year it was the revamp of Policy 4.70 -Sustainability Policy. Our proposed BOE goals for this school year currently request us focusing on 8:10 Connection with the Community, as well as 2:15 Committees and 8.100 Relationships to Other Organizations and Agencies. 

In general, the process for creating policy starts with a need for new policy, then requires a thorough review of all existing policy to see what may already exist, before creating or revising policy. What you have suggested might touch these policies but seems more likely covered in 1:30 School District Philosophy. I recall there was extensive community involvement when this policy was revisited during the creation of the District's Strategic Plan. It was last reviewed by the BOE in September 2021. 

We will take your input (as we do the input of other individual and organizations suggesting policy enhancements) into consideration as we do our policy reviews." 

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My response back: 

"Thanks Tom. 

I will take this as a “NO” and share the response as written with those who signed the petition (95 families) and other interested folks. 

More specifically, and in response to your answer, the statement is meant to touch all school discussions and attempts to encourage appropriate challenge and multiple viewpoints instead of one. This would be applicable to the topics you mention below of sustainability, board goals, connection to community(!), committees and outside relationships. 

Also, can you please share the exact date of the recorded board discussion where policy 1:30 was reviewed and updated and who currently chairs the policy committee? 

I appreciate you circling back. 

Take care, 

Ross" 

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Thank you for your support.

If you care to ask the board to elevate the importance of such a statement urge the board to discuss it this quarter, you can reach the entire the Board:  boe@oprfhs.org.  Also, it is my understanding that Board Member Martire leads the policy work for the district and his board email is rmartire@oprfhs.org.