Mead School Board approves new policy limiting classroom decor, teacher comments that espouse personal beliefs

The Mead School Board Monday night unanimously approved a policy regulating what teachers can say, wear and display in their classrooms.

The policy, based on blueprints from the Washington State School Directors’ Association, spurred concern from the Mead teacher’s union about its implementation and scope.

The policy and accompanying procedure surround “staff expression,” prohibiting classroom decorations that “advocate for or promote their personal beliefs (whether those beliefs are political, social, religious, etc),” the procedure reads.

The new rules are meant to ensure classrooms are neutral environments where kids aren’t subject to any “bias or undue influence,” school board member Michael Cannon said at Monday’s school board meeting.

“I’m increasingly aware that schools in gener