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Everyone Is Welcome

The Issue

Sixth-grade teacher, Sarah Inama was instructed by their building admin to remove two posters from her classroom at Lewis and Clark Middle School. One poster read "Everyone is welcome here" and featured hands of various skin tones, while the other listed classroom values such as acceptance and respect. District officials cited Policy 401.20, which mandates that classroom displays be "content neutral and conducive to a positive learning environment," asserting that the posters did not align with this policy.

 

Their argument seems to hinge on the idea that the imagery of diverse hands and words like "welcomed" and "respected" might not be considered neutral and could be perceived as political or divisive. However, the policy itself also emphasizes professional conduct, moral standards, and maintaining a positive learning environment. One could argue that a poster stating "Everyone is welcome here" is fully in line with these goals rather than contradicting them. If the phrase itself is acceptable in text-only form, as the district suggested, then the concern appears to be more about the imagery and possible interpretation rather than a clear violation of policy.

 

Additionally, "content neutral" is a vague standard—the school permits motivational posters, yet inclusivity-related messages are being scrutinized. This selective enforcement could be seen as inconsistent. If neutrality is the goal, then the district must apply this standard equally across all classroom materials, which raises questions about what qualifies as neutral and who decides that.

This District Policy which was accepted three years ago is just now being enforced. The timing, coinciding with heightened political discourse on DEI raises questions about potential external influences on the policy's application. While the district maintains that the policy enforcement is standard procedure, the broader political environment may have contributed to a more stringent interpretation and application of these guidelines.

 

This situation also raises concerns regarding potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. If the removal of these posters disproportionately affects students of diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds—by creating an environment where inclusivity messages are censored while other forms of classroom expression remain—it could be seen as fostering a less welcoming and supportive atmosphere for certain students. The district’s decision may have an unintended discriminatory impact, making it more difficult for students from marginalized communities to feel safe and valued in their learning spaces.

 

What Can I do?

If you are a parent of a West Ada Student, a Student of West Ada, a West Ada Staff member, or a resident that lives within West Ada's boundaries:

  1. (If you are a parent, a student, or a teacher of West Ada) Contact your school principal and verify if they support and or are actively applying this policy at their school
  2. Attend School Board Meetings
    1. Next board meeting is April 14th 2025
  3. Contact your school Board of Trustee Zone Chair Member
    1. Zone 1: Lori Frasure, frasure.lori@westada.org 
    2. Zone 2: Lucas Baclayon, baclayon.lucas@westada.org 
    3. Zone 3: Angie Redford, redford.angie@westada.org 
    4. Zone 4: David Binetti, binetti.david@westada.org 
    5. Zone 5: Rene Ozuna, ozuna.rene@westada.org 
  4. Contact Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub
    1. Bub.Derek@westada.org 
    2. https://survey.k12insight.com/survey/form?k=RQsVYRRsQWWXsPsPsP&lang=0 
  5. Contact Director of Accountability & Support Dr. Shana Hawkins
    1. Hawkins.Shana@westada.org
  6. File a Discrimination and Harassment Reporting Form:  https://survey.k12insight.com/survey/form?k=RQsVYRRsQYSSsPsPsP&lang=0 

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