Name: Anti-LGBTQ flags displayed at SE Polk raises concerns among community
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Anti-LGBTQ flags displayed at SE Polk raises concerns among community

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AdvertisementAnti-LGBTQ flags displayed at SE Polk raises concerns among communityHide TranscriptShow TranscriptRIGHT NOW. STACEY: GOOD EVENING. FIRST AT 6:00. STUDENTS AT A METRO HIGH SCHOOL SAY THEY ARE BEING BULLIED BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY. NOW THE DISTRICT SAYS IT’S TAKING ACTION BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT WEDNESDAY. STEVE: IT HAPPENED IN THE SOUTHEAST POLK HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT IN PLEASANT HILL. KCCI’S MARCUS MCINTOSH IS LIVE THERE TONIGHT WITH WHAT THE FAMILIES SAY HAPPENED. MARCUS WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF : EMAILS DETAILING WHAT HAPPENED STUDENTS WERE HARASSED FOR BEING . STUDENTS WERE HARASSED FOR BEING LGBTQ BY OTHER STUDENTS WHO MADE WHAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED AS CONFEDERATE FLAGS OUT OF PRIDE FLAGS AND HARASSED THE STUDENTS ON THEIR LUNCH BREAK. THE ADMINISTRATION FOUND OUT AND TOOK ACTION. &gt;&gt; IT IS FRUSTRATING ANYTIME YOU HEAR ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL OR THE STUDENTS WHO GO TO YOUR SCHOOL. MARCUS STEVE PETTIT IS THE : PRINCIPAL AT SOUTHEAST POLK HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN ASDMINSTRATORS LEARNED OF WHAT THEY’RE CALLING AND INAPPROPRIATE INCIDENT, THEY REACTED. &gt;&gt; OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM WORKED WITH OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO WERE SENDING INFORMATION TO US TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE COULD. MARCUS: IOWA SAFE SCHOOLS, WHICH OFFERS SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN BULLIED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF IOWA, WAS ALERTED TO WHAT HAPPENED AT SOUTHEAST POLK. THEY SAY IT REINFORCES WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW. &gt;&gt; THERE IS STILL TONS OF WORK TO DO. WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO DON’T FEEL SAFE GOING TO SCHOOL AND WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO FEEL SPECIFICALLY TARGETED WHILE AT SCHOOL. MARCUS: BECKY RITLAND, IOWA SAFE SCHOOLS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, APPLAUDS THE WAY HAPPENED. &gt;&gt; THE FIRST STEP TOWARD ANY TYPE OF DISCIPLINE OR ACTION AROUND INCIDENTS OF BULLYING OR HARASSMENT IS TO GET ALL YOUR FACTS. SPEAK WITH BOTH THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THAT BULLYING BEHAVIOR. MARCUS: PETTIT HOPES TO CONTINUE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE STUDENTS SO THEY FEEL WILL ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION. &gt;&gt; IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY CAN BRING IDEAS AND PROBLEMS WHETHER ITS TO TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATORS. MARCUS: SOUTHEAST POLK HIGH SCHOOL DOES HAVE A GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE CLUB. PRINCIPAL PETTIT SAYS, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING ACCEPTANCE TOLERANCE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ARE GOALS OF THE DISTRICTS STUDENT ACTIVITIAdvertisementAnti-LGBTQ flags displayed at SE Polk raises concerns among community“It’s frustrating.”That was Southeast Polk Principal Steve Pettit’s reaction to what he said happened Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of the high school.“There was an inappropriate action in our parking lot that some students took offense to,” Pettit said.Pettit said he was not able to share more information about the incident.But some emailers were.People who reached out to us said students who identify as LGBTQ were harassed by other students who made what they describe as Confederate flags out of pride flags.Parking behind their cars with the homemade flags.Pettit said what happened is not common and has no place at Southeast Polk High School.“Our administrative team worked with our students and our parents who were sending us information. To gather as much information as we could and respond swiftly and appropriately,” he said.Becky Ritland, the interim director of Iowa Safe Schools, said the organization was informed about the anti-LGBTQ incident and said she applauds the district’s approach.“The first step toward any type of discipline or action around incidents of bullying or harassment is to get all your facts,” she said. The organization provides help to students across the state who have faced harassment.But Ritland said there is still work to do.Pettit said open lines of communication between students and staff are a must, so students feel comfortable and safe speaking up.“It’s frustrating.”That was Southeast Polk Principal Steve Pettit’s reaction to what he said happened Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of the high school.Advertisement“There was an inappropriate action in our parking lot that some students took offense to,” Pettit said.Pettit said he was not able to share more information about the incident.But some emailers were.People who reached out to us said students who identify as LGBTQ were harassed by other students who made what they describe as Confederate flags out of pride flags.Parking behind their cars with the homemade flags.Pettit said what happened is not common and has no place at Southeast Polk High School.“Our administrative team worked with our students and our parents who were sending us information. To gather as much information as we could and respond swiftly and appropriately,” he said.Becky Ritland, the interim director of Iowa Safe Schools, said the organization was informed about the anti-LGBTQ incident and said she applauds the district’s approach.“The first step toward any type of discipline or action around incidents of bullying or harassment is to get all your facts,” she said. The organization provides help to students across the state who have faced harassment.But Ritland said there is still work to do.Pettit said open lines of communication between students and staff are a must, so students feel comfortable and safe speaking up.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementAnti-LGBTQ flags displayed at SE Polk raises concerns among communityHide TranscriptShow TranscriptRIGHT NOW. STACEY: GOOD EVENING. FIRST AT 6:00. STUDENTS AT A METRO HIGH SCHOOL SAY THEY ARE BEING BULLIED BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY. NOW THE DISTRICT SAYS IT’S TAKING ACTION BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT WEDNESDAY. STEVE: IT HAPPENED IN THE SOUTHEAST POLK HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT IN PLEASANT HILL. KCCI’S MARCUS MCINTOSH IS LIVE THERE TONIGHT WITH WHAT THE FAMILIES SAY HAPPENED. MARCUS WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF : EMAILS DETAILING WHAT HAPPENED STUDENTS WERE HARASSED FOR BEING . STUDENTS WERE...

Anti-LGBTQ flags displayed at SE Polk raises concerns among community

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