Superintendent Moyer offered little response, no real reasons
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
Many York High School parents, teachers, family members and others attended the District 205 Board meeting on Tuesday, December 15 to protest the decision to no longer make daily announcements over the loudspeaker for the school’s gay-straight alliance.
Announcements provided by a group known by “AS.IS” were pulled by District 205 Superintendent David Moyer, who offered no explanation as to why, except to indicate they were “inappropriate.”
Moyer later released a statement via e-mail to the press:
“I share the students’ belief in tolerance, acceptance and respect for all individuals,” the statement read. “I have made that clear at every point along the way.”
He also indicated in his written statement that he would be reaching out to students following the winter break.
Some officials said Moyer was not normally involved in reviewing York announcements, that they are set to run at regularly-scheduled times near the start of the school day.
Faculty advisers for AS.IS said they were not told a reason why the announcements were pulled either.
“We have only been told they were inappropriate,” York college and career counselor Amy Thompson was quoted to say. She is one of two faculty co-sponsors of AS.IS.
Thompson was one of more than 30 people who spoke during public forum at the Dec. 15th Board meeting. She told the Board that the pulled announcements were “to recognize significant accomplishments in our country by and for LGBT people, to recognize well-known LGBT figures who endured discrimination and to share interesting facts.”
Resident Deborah Sandstrom suggested an investigation to see if there had been a policy violation.
“My concern is whether this club (AS.IS) had been treated the same as other clubs,” said Sandstrom, who has two children in District 205 schools. “The board ought to take a look at what occurred. Our district should be wary of bias.”
In closing public comment, Board President Shannon Ebner acknowledged the crowd’s concerns and said the board expected to offer a response on the issue at its next meeting scheduled for January 12.
