Educate Gilbert Says No Politics In Our Schools

Educate Gilbert, a grassroots group of parents, educators, business owners and residents of Gilbert invested in local education, launched a No Politics In Our Schools campaign to educate community members and warn school administrators about the legal and professional ramifications of allowing political activity to occur in schools.

The campaign includes:

  • Appeal to the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board (July 31) to issue a memo reminding employees not to engage in political activity on school grounds.
  • Memos sent to more than 80 Gilbert district principals and administrators announcing the campaign, outlining potential prohibited political activities, and asking for their cooperation in resolving any issues that may occur.
  • Webpage with information for community members on potential political activities prohibited on school campuses and how to report any complaint involving a Gilbert school or employee.
  • Online portal where community members, parents and even educators can report prohibited behavior anonymously.
  • Escalation support services for any complaint that is not resolved in a timely manner by the school administrators.  This may be escalation to the Gilbert Public Schools District Superintendent and/or Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board, Arizona Department of Education and Arizona Attorney General.

Arizona Statute ARS 15-511 prohibits the use of school district or charter school resources or employees to influence the outcome of elections. Several other school district policies also prohibit political activities in areas including staff conduct, dress code, use of social media and electronic devices, solicitation and advertising in schools and distribution of promotional materials.

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Last year following a six-day walkout and closure of all Gilbert district schools, Superintendent Shane McCord issued a memo to employees asking them not to wear Red For Ed shirts at school as it was a distraction from the educational program. The district would not take a position as to whether or not wearing shirts or other Red For Ed efforts were a violation of ARS 15-511 or other district policies but that not doing so was in the best interest of the students and overall educational mission to avoid potential conflicts.

Members of Educate Gilbert assert that since Red For Ed is now clearly tied to the Invest In Education ballot proposition, ARS 15-511 and district policies do apply and should be enforced. With primary and general elections approaching, the group developed the campaign as a proactive effort to remind school administrators that political activity will not be tolerated on school campuses or by school employees in any official district capacity and will be reported. Members of the group are also working with the Attorney General’s office to ensure they are committed to investigating any complaints for ARS 15-511 violations and are urging the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board to take the matter seriously.

“It doesn’t matter where you stand on Red For Ed, Invest In Education or on any political issue, candidate or ballot proposition, it has no place on our school campuses,” says Julie Brown, a founder of Educate Gilbert and a Gilbert public school parent. “Our students deserve a right to an education that is not tainted by special interest groups, politics or school disruptions like walk-ins or walkouts. Last year our school administrators allowed these activities to occur freely and openly on our campuses and we will not tolerate it anymore.”

The campaign outlines behavior that may be prohibited which includes employees wearing any political or graphic shirts, distributing political propaganda on campuses, or the use of any school resources on behalf of a candidate, proposition or political stance. Employees are also prohibited from using their school email address or any school equipment/technology to post messages on social media related to any political efforts. School websites and social media pages, including those of parent teacher organizations, cannot promote any political positions. Employees are also not permitted to organize any political activities on campus, recruit others for any such efforts or engage students in any assignments or conversations that assert a specific political stance or position. Candidate propaganda like flyers and postcards are permitted from being distributed on school campuses at any time, not just during school hours.

A notice of concern was also issued by Educate Gilbert to all Gilbert district principals, Superintendent Shane McCord and the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board regarding the wearing of vests on school campuses. On Aug. 11 some employees wore vests to school to show their support of the Invest In Education Act. Arizona Educators United, the group behind the Red For Ed movement, publicly promoted the wearing of vests to school on Fridays beginning last week to symbolize support of the this ballot proposition. The vests worn in schools is a violation of ARS 15-511 and several district policies and the members of Educate Gilbert have vowed to report any future activities to the Attorney General’s office.

The campaign will be an ongoing effort throughout the election season and school year and will include additional efforts yet to be announced. Educate Gilbert members are also working with parents from other school districts to replicate the campaign in other cities. For more information on the campaign, visit www.EducateGilbert.com.

Educate Gilbert is a grassroots group of parents, educators, business owners and residents of Gilbert who are vested in the quality and enhancement of local education. The group supports competitive pay for staff, district financial transparency, responsible school choice, nonpartisan schools, parent involvement and enhanced school security. For more information visit www.EducateGilbert.com.

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