UPDATE: THERE’s AN ANSWER. PARENTS WANT THE ROCKWOOD SUMMIT PRINCIPAL TO FIND OUT: WHO DID IT? ABORTION ISSUE FLYER WAS FOUND IN BATHROOMS AT THE SCHOOL.

Although it is not clear how it was discovered, Rockwood Summit’s principal has said students were responsible for the flyer.

No word yet if consequences are warranted.

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Previous post:

Parents say they want the principal at Rockwood Summit High School to investigate whether a teacher or other adult at the school put up this pro-choice flyer in the girls bathrooms yesterday (Wednesday).

We're told it was also placed in the boys bathrooms at the school.

The flyer says to wear red to school today to support the "right to choose."

Given the quality of the flyer, the smooth condition of the paper, the neat way in which it was taped up, and, that it was put up in multiple locations, it appears that it took time to coordinate.

Some parents are skeptical that students are responsible.

Parents who are both pro-choice and pro-life stated the flyer was not appropriate to be at school:

"I'm pro-choice but why didn't they have fliers for masks and the shot.  If you support one, you must support all. Just like BLM and police."

Other parents stated maybe there should be a flyer that says to wear other colors if you are pro life.

Overall, the sentiment was the same:

"I feel like this is very inappropriate for school."

Principal Emily Mccown told parents the flyer wasn't approved and that they took them down.

The reply did not answer questions about whether she knows who put up the flyer or whether she's investigating.

POLICY VIOLATION?

Rockwood school district has several policies related to controversial or divisive content. The regulations for policy 1471 cover what can be advertised at school, and appear to address divisiveness.

Point #5:

"...advertisement on district property or at district events may not include information or materials that: 

5. Present a clear and present likelihood that, either because of their content or their manner of distribution, they will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities or will cause the commission of unlawful acts or the violation of lawful school procedures."

From regulations for Rockwood policy 1471

Parents told us their kids have also seen this same call to wear red for abortion rights today, on TikTok. 

The controversial nature of the abortion topic is in the spotlight right now after the leak of a draft from the U.S. Supreme Court that makes it appear as though justices will overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision in 1973 that established a constitutional right to abortion.

ALSO CONTROVERSIAL IN ROCKWOOD

This incident comes after a LGBTQ Pride display board was put up in the 6th grade hallway at Rockwood Valley Middle School last week. There are conflicting reports about whether language arts teachers did the board or if students played a role.

Other students expressed concern that the messages appear to always be one-sided:

​"No one cares about us. Only if you are gay."​
"I feel like they want us to be gay."​
"What about us?"​
“Maybe we should be gay so they care about us.”​ --7th graders at Rockwood Valley middle.

In this case, principal Karen Hedrick defended the board and explained that they change the boards monthly for various observances including disabilities, Native Americans, Black history and women's history.

Parents and students have asked for a board that supports police officers, given that next week begins National Police Week. Here's more information about the week: National Police Week

Parents will be watching closely after the district made parents and students remove a flag from the baseball field fence at Eureka High School that showed supported for First Responders and Law Enforcement. You can read more about that here.