By Tiffany Sebourn
On their social media page, the Coffee County Democratic Party invited the public to join them at an upcoming Tullahoma City School Board Meeting.
Seemingly in response to a recent kerfuffle surrounding Facebook conduct of a Tullahoma teacher. Dr. Monica Blake-Beasley, a Criminal Justice teacher at Tullahoma High School, received a formal reprimand on Monday, September 22, for unprofessional language used in a Facebook comment concerning Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The reprimand and controversy surrounding it reignited scrutiny of Blake-Beasley’s choice to display a LGBTQ+ flag in her classroom.
Former Tullahoma Alderman Daniel Berry started a petition calling for the TCS Board of Education to adopt a policy allowing only American and State of Tennessee flags to be displayed in TCS classrooms. The petition has accumulated over 500 signatures at the time of THIS article.
Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens confirmed a new policy is being considered in a statement to Peterson Media Group:
The Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education is considering a policy that outlines expectations for flags and other displays on all Tullahoma City Schools campuses. In considering this draft policy addition, we reviewed the board policies of two school systems (Coffee County and Tipton County), contacted the Tennessee School Boards Association, and consulted with our school board attorney.
Whenever a policy is being considered for approval, it is included in the school board agenda so the board can take action on it. Our next school board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. If this draft policy is ready for action, it will be included in the agenda for board consideration.
The Coffee County School District recently adopted a policy that permits only American flags and State of Tennessee flags to be flown in classrooms. Read more about the Coffee County School District’s flag policy here.
The Coffee County Democrats posted this on their Facebook page:
ATTENTION, Democrats and allies! We need your help!
The Tullahoma City Schools Board will vote on a new policy restricting flags and displays on campus at their next meeting — exactly one week from today, on Tuesday October 21 at 5 p.m., at 510 South Jackson St., Tullahoma.
This is an attempt to remove Pride flags from classrooms. But Pride flags don’t symbolize exclusion or ideology. They symbolize unity and inclusion. At a time when LGBTQ+ children are victims of disproportional bullying, depression, and suicide, Pride flags tell our children of all kinds, “you are safe here.”
We are calling on the Tullahoma community to show up in large numbers, pack the school board meeting, and speak out. This policy could silence teachers and remove symbols of safety for LGBTQ+ students.
If you can speak at the meeting, please call (931) 454-2600 to ask how to be added to the speaking agenda. Let’s give the board, and others in the community a piece of our mind about the importance of inclusion, free expression, and a safer learning environment for every child in Tullahoma.
We are demanding that teachers be allowed to display flags such as the Pride flag. A competing petition already has roughly 600 signatures. Let’s show them how many LGBTQ+ allies are in Tullahoma, Coffee County, and beyond.
October is LGBTQ+ History Month. In honor of this month, let’s show up for our youth and protect them from bullying and suicide. Join us at the School Board Meeting, and sign the petition, to stand for inclusion, compassion, and the safety of Tullahoma’s youth.
For more information on the context and the School Board Meeting, please go here:
https://thunder1320.com/tullahoma-city-schools-may-adopt…
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