UPDATE: WHY ROCKWOOD REMOVED THIS FIRST RESPONDER BANNER
We got SOME answers from Rockwood, but, they really only raised more questions. Superintendent Dr. Ricker did respond and gave the reason we already heard:
"District policy requires approval for all banners or flags displayed on our athletic fields. The process set forth in the policy was not followed in this case, which is why the flag was removed. Our adherence to our school and district policies should not be construed as a lack of support and appreciation for all first responders."
We talked with several people involved with various Eureka high school booster clubs and none of them can recall ever needing permission for a banner or an ad, for years. (No one we talked with wanted to be named, out of fear of backlash.)
The flag banner was installed on a fence surrounding Eureka High School's baseball field; placed there by the booster club for the baseball program.
The removed banner shows an American flag that is altered with white, blue, green, and, red stripes, in support of law enforcement, military, firefighters, and emergency personnel (first responders).
Other banners, with ads, have hung on that fence for years. The varsity baseball coach at the school was told to remove the flag banner on Monday.
Depending on who you talk to, the order to remove it either came from the "central office," or the activities director.
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| Eureka high school baseball field before the flag banner was removed this week. |
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| The EHS baseball field now, with the banner removed. |
Parents talked to Eureka High School Principal Dr. Cory Sink. When they asked whether the banner would have been ok WITH permission, the answer switched to: only red, white and blue flags are allowed. It is not clear why that wasn't his original answer.
Also, that claim about "red, white and blue flags only" is not in the district policies he referenced.
You can read them yourself here:
Policy 1471 references getting permission.
Regulations associated with policy 1471 talk about prohibiting advertising that can cause "material and substantial disruption." See item # 5.
Policy and regulations 2950 reference fundraising.
It is not clear whether these polices were enforced before now.
SENSITIVE ISSUE
Supporting law enforcement is a sensitive issue among many Rockwood parents. Flags in support of them were carried on the football field prior to 2019, until someone complained.
In addition to resisting public displays of law enforcement support, district administrators participated in a local Black Lives Matter march, and the district has used lesson materials and books that contain anti-police themes.
We have reported extensively on this topic:
Side note: Critical Race Theory includes the belief that our country, its laws, and its institutions are racist. Law enforcement is one of those institutions that's said to be racist. Many parents believe, if kids are learning at school that police are racist, practically speaking, that's an aspect of Critical Race Theory.
MOVING THE GOAL POST?
With the EHS baseball team, at first it was just uniforms, now it's fence banners, too.
Eureka high school's baseball team took steps to correct what the district last year called uniform violations. The flag patches on hats and jerseys that honored police officers as well as military and emergency personnel (first responders) had to be covered up with standard American flags.
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| The thin blue line flag on the uniform hats in 2021. |
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| The first responder patch on the uniform jersey in 2021 |
After following those uniform rules this year, the team and parents have been told that now fence banners are off limits, too.
When describing the issues with the fence banner, these are the comments attributed to Rockwood officials as the order to remove the banner went down:
"The district said it did not represent all students appropriately."
"It doesn't help the students and sends a "negative message."
ROCKWOOD REACTS
Although we are still waiting for an official response from the district, people in the Rockwood community are reacting. The removal of the banner has disappointed and angered many, especially since this is the second such removal of items that support law enforcement.
Comments like this one lit up social media yesterday, as the news of the removal circulated:
People associated with the baseball team told us they can't get a clear answer as to why the banner was not appropriate, or, whether the uniform patches last year actually violated any rules.
The district cited local, state and national rules to justify calling the flag patches on the uniforms a "violation."
But, when you read the national uniform rules, they actually allow commemorative flag patches as long as they are the right size. See page 28 in the link above.
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| NFHS rule wording from 2016. It's the same wording as in the link above; in effect for years. |
It may boil down to the definition of an American flag.
Though, the rules do also allow commemorative or memorial patches.
WHO PAID FOR THE BANNER
We're told the person who purchased the banner does not want to be named. That person is in the Eureka Baseball Booster club, and, to support the baseball program at EHS, donated money above and beyond the cost of a banner ad to hang on the fence. Think of it like sponsoring an ad. Rather than promote a business, though, the donor decided to use the banner to honor first responders. Cost of the banner: $230.00.
(Booster clubs are essentially the PTOs (Parent Teacher Organizations) of the teams or activities they support. Eureka's baseball team relies on fundraising, such as the money that paid for the banner, to pay for things like tournament entry fees, helmets, travel expenses, etc).
Talking to parents yesterday, Sink went on to say that American flags with different colors are not allowed because, basically, certain color flags mean certain things to different people. He said he and the school support first responders. He pointed out that a police officer threw the first pitch in a recent game, and, that he'd support a first responders "club" for students in the school.
The post above is an update. The original was posted March 29th and is seen in its entirety below:
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BREAKING: MORE THIN BLUE LINE DRAMA AT ROCKWOOD
The First Responder banner placed along the fence of the baseball field at Eureka High School has been removed. We're told there was a complaint and the baseball coach was told to remove it. It had been placed, apparently according to the rules by a local business booster.
Reportedly, Rockwood gave this reason: It doesn't help the students and sends a "negative message."
This is the flag in place during spring break.
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| Eureka high school baseball field. |
This is its empty spot now.
Many parents remember: Around this time last year, Rockwood decided the Eureka High School baseball team had to remove its first responder patch from their uniforms.
Now, this banner has been taken down, too.
Check back. This is a developing story.