Dear Parents and Residents of Little Miami School District,

The Little Miami School Board will have a first read on a new policy that restricts the types of flags and displays allowed in our schools at the Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, school board meeting. If agreed upon, they could vote to pass the policy as early as the regular January 2025 board meeting.

The broad language would mean teachers have to remove any posters/signs/flags that are not related directly to curriculum. This would include, but is not limited to, signs that say things such as “Welcome to Our Classroom,” “Let Your Light Shine,” “Go Bengals/Reds/other sports teams!” and more. This interpretation has been confirmed by Central Office.

This is part of an effort to restrict displays supporting minority groups and has been proposed by board member David Wallace, who included among his campaign promises to remove these types of displays while also promising to hand out Thin Blue Line flags at all home football games.

The wording of the policy was borrowed from Big Walnut schools in Sunbury, which has received a cease and desist letter from the ACLU protesting Big Walnut’s recently passed policy.

Here is the language of the proposed policy:

FLAGS AND DISPLAYS

This is the policy of the Little Miami Board of Education as a neutral policy in respect to the appropriate usage and display of the items in District buildings or on District property. This includes flags, banners, posters, electronic insignia, and similar items (collectively displays) and is in addition to the use of the current American flag as referenced in policy INDB . This policy applies to displays affixed to the grounds, stadium fencing, walls, doors, ceilings, or or any other furnishings or appurtenances of any public school system building, vehicle, or the facility owned or operated by the Board of Education. This also applies to any electronic messaging, including emails, on the District's network, and are as follows:

A. The current American flag and current State of Ohio flag.

B. The current Little Miami flag or mascot.

C. Displays used in the classroom as part of a temporary unit of study within the curriculum. If this may be in question of a controversial nature please refer to policies INB and IB.

D. Displays that denote a recognition of achievement and are approved by the Superintendent as to content and location of the display.

E. Ohio High School Athletic Association or similar sport tournament displays, approved advertising, including visiting schools' current flag, mascot, banners, etc. recognizing the participation of or accomplishment of a school team or student.

F. Displays from the branches of the United States Military, colleges, and universities may be placed in approved locations.

G. Flags of countries representing our Foreign Exchange Students may be placed in approved locations by building administrators.

H. Flyers, notices, or invitation for clubs shall be placed only on approved bulletin boards approved by building administrators. Flyers, notices, or invitations for clubs shall be no larger than an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.

If you would like to join the petition AGAINST the policy, please sign!