Bigfork School Board to review policies on flags, religious instruction
Bigfork Eagle | Bigfork Eagle | UPDATED 7 months, 3 weeks AGO
Bigfork High School on Monday, June 3. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
The Bigfork School Board this week will discuss a new policy on displaying flags on school property and a new draft on guidelines for release time for religious instruction.
The discussions will be among a suite of 15 policy votes, ranging from the school calendar and student discipline rules to procedures on administering medication to students. The meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 5 p.m. at the high school library.
The flag discussion comes after the 2024 Legislature passed a law banning certain flags on state property.
Sponsored by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, House Bill 819 restricts flags and banners that “represent a political viewpoint” from being displayed on grounds owned or leased by state, county and local governments, including public schools, universities, courthouses and administrative buildings. Among the list of banned flags are any motifs that pertain to a specific race, sexual orientation, or gender, including Black Lives Matter flags and flags representing members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The law does allow the display of flags for a city, county or special district, tribal nations, official military and law enforcement flags, some historical flags, and flags or banners for a school district or mascot.
Some cities have used a loophole to circumnavigate the law. Missoula, for example, adopted the pride flag as an official city flag to meet the laws requirements.
Bigfork School District's proposed policy would adopt the definitions of the new state law.
A policy update on release time for religious instruction is also on the agenda. The policy was last reviewed and adopted in 2022.
The new draft states that early release for religious instruction will not adversely affect the student's enrollment status or attendance record. Optionally, the district may award credit for completion of a religious instruction course and recognize the credits of an independently accredited provider.
Also under review is an update to the work-based learning policy to include a provision for credit for employment at congregate care and childcare facilities.