School board meeting draws crowd

Community members, educators voice concerns relating to “ally” magnet

Public comment dominated the Wessington Springs School District Board of Education meeting Monday night, as seven individuals spoke over the course of 24 minutes on topics including learning environment, school district policy/procedure, division and teacher morale, all pertaining to an “ally” magnet displayed in a Wessington Springs High School (WSHS) teacher’s classroom. 

A large crowd comprised of more than 50 people including parents, students, teachers and community members were in attendance, prompting the need to pull in more chairs to the middle/high school auditorium in order to accommodate meeting attendees.

Those who spoke signed up in advance to speak during public forum. Board Chairperson Todd Grohs opened public forum by explaining that each speaker would be granted five minutes to present comments to the school board per the district’s policy.

Voices of concern  

Kari Fagerhaug took the floor first, describing herself as having two kids in the school district and representing a group of concerned citizens who wished to address the board regarding the learning environment in the Wessington Springs School District. 

“The Wessington Springs School district is a Character Counts School, built on a framework around six pillars of character to help teach young people to make sound moral judgments. We are concerned about how the pillars of respect, fairness and caring are not evident in recent board actions,” she shared with the school board, also citing the school’s mission statement. "We want to foster a caring, inclusive atmosphere where kids feel safe to be who they are, to question as they grow and learn, and to support the continued relationship between educators and families. We support all voices in our community.”

Fagerhaug pointed to “circumstances that have arisen which are a cause for concern from a number of different standpoints,” requesting further conversations between the school board and community to resolve the concerns.

“Ally” magnet identified as issue 

Wessington Springs resident Aaron Roesler was second to speak in public forum, reading a statement on behalf of himself and his wife Alicia, an educator at Wessington Springs High School. 

His statement further described the issue at hand: the display of an “ally” magnet in a WSHS teacher’s classroom. 

“After seeing the division that is sadly coming into our school, Alicia and I have been trying to find a way to look at this situation in a calm and careful manner. We noticed that it was quickly becoming a situation where faith was taking center stage. When faith and religion are pulled into situations, emotions run high, and feelings get easily hurt,” he began. “So, we decided to take a step back and look at the facts. An ally magnet was hung up at school. We asked ourselves, ‘What does ally exactly mean?’ We decided to find the definition of ally. Through our research on the meaning and history behind ally, we found information stating that it is a political social movement. The basic definition of being an ally (that we found) was: A heterosexual and/or cisgender person who supports equal civil rights, gender equality, LGBTQA+ social movements, and challenges homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and any discrimination against the LGBTQA+ community.” 

Roesler then referred to a school incident last year involving the posting of a sign supporting a former-presidential candidate in the Spartan Café at the high school. He said it was against school policy to hang such an item and students were asked to take it down.

“The school needed to remain neutral, and the school was correct to ask those students to remove it,” he said. “We feel that it is best for everyone involved to also take a step back from their own personal beliefs and realize this has nothing to do with faith or religion. This is more about following the current written policies that school has in place.”

Next up was Gerry Orth, introducing himself as a former school board member, father of four children in the district and husband to a teacher in the school district. 

“I am here before you to express my concern about the events that have taken place recently,” he began. “For one, an event with the rainbow magnet I feel is completely out of line. There are bigger problems in the world. Number two, I know who each one of you are as parents, and I feel that if one of my children were in that situation I would hope that they would be supported and have a place to turn.” 

He continued to voice concern regarding losing teachers in the district over “values expressed, not forced, upon others.” 

“If we continue to be close minded on issues, it can affect potential hires in a field that is already hard to fill, further hampering our students’ education,” he stated, followed by an explanation about an issue during his tenure as a school board member. “Let’s not make issues that don’t need to be made, dividing the community. When I was on the board I saw firsthand how it affected people. It put friends against friends, neighbors against neighbors, with a trickle down effect affecting students and staff.”    

Vocalizing concerns about “human acceptance” and “safe space of learning” 

The fourth speaker of the night was Stanna Olinger, Special Education teacher at Wessington Springs Elementary School.

“As I see it, there are two issues at hand,” she opened. “The first issue is regarding following proper procedure.  Having read multiple policies found on the Wessington Springs School District website, it is blatantly obvious these procedures were not followed.” 

She continued, “The second issue, and in my opinion, the most concerning issue has to do with inclusivity in our school district. Human acceptance is what brings me here today.”

Olinger recounted experiences with a wide variety of students during her nearly 30 years of teaching, explaining that regardless of the students’ religious and/or personal beliefs, backgrounds and home lives, she accepts and includes all students equally.  

“I see these kids, I let them know that I see them, and I love them every day. Loud and proud. I accept them for who they are and where they come from, no questions asked,” she said. “The stories I just shared are mine to tell.  Most teachers, as a whole, have nearly identical stories to tell.  The details may be different, but the inclusion and human acceptance is the same.”

Olinger then described the method a high school math teacher in the Wessington Springs School District uses to greet students.  

“She uses less exuberant ways to greet them: ‘hey guys,’ or ‘good morning.’  Additionally, this teacher has a 2-inch x 4-inch magnet, rainbow in color, with the word ‘ally’ on the front.  It used to be on a filing cabinet in her classroom. A silent notice, for those that need it, that this teacher is glad to see you and she loves you. This magnet was this teacher’s way to show human acceptance and inclusivity. To offer a ‘safe space’ for a kiddo that needs it. Without saying a word.”

David Salmen took the floor next, introducing himself as alumnus, former board member as well as a tax payer in this school district. 

“The actions of a few individuals have provoked me to speak out this evening. I wish to address two issues of the past few days, both relating to a ‘rainbow’ magnet with the wording ‘ally,’” he began. “A rainbow magnet is neither religious or political and should cause no one any concern. It is a simple symbol that to an occasional student might be a sign of welcome, inclusion and hope. This simple gesture from one of your fine educators might be the difference between life and suicide for a young person.” 

Salmen continued, recalling his time at Wessington Springs High School.

“I remember walking these halls 45 years ago, often in fear. I was different than most other students at that time but it took me 50 years to realize just how different I really was,” Salmen stated, also adding that while there were a few teachers who encouraged him and gave him hope, there were teachers who participated in hatred, hazing, ridicule or abuse. “It is not a time I remember fondly. You as board members and administration have a duty to protect and defend all students and to create a safe space of learning.”    

He then addressed the handling of the situation, stating, “I have spent nearly half of my life serving on various boards. I know enough about board procedures and governance to know that one or two board members alone have no power or authority. This seems to be forgotten by a few.” 

Presenting questions to the board  

Donna Wagner followed, introducing herself as having taught at the middle school/high school for 28 years and began to weigh in on the “ally” magnet issue. 

"I can honestly say I’m not completely comfortable with the idea of differences in sexual orientation but that does not mean that I cannot be open, accommodating and supportive with a different viewpoint or lifestyle,” Wagner explained to the board. “As educators it is our job to teach all children regardless of their abilities, family life, socio economic status, religion or sexual orientation. We cannot discriminate against someone simply because they are different.”

Wagner continued to say that she sees no place for being judgmental or narrow minded in education and also focused on parent responsibility. 

“Tolerance must be taught first at home by parents and guardians, followed by school staff to demonstrate to our students that this is something all people need to embrace. Visual symbols can help support and emphasize this point,” she stated, then shifted gears to ask questions of the board. 

“Is this really an issue you want our school and community to be famous for? Do you really want to be known as a school board that is intolerant of those who are different? Are we a school that only instructs students who share specific personal values with individual board members or are we a community that provides academic instruction to all members regardless of race, gender, religion or orientation?”

Affecting teacher and staff morale 

The final public forum speaker of the evening was Julie Bruckner, fourth grade teacher at the elementary school and WSHS alumna.

“This is an issue that was made bigger than it needed to be. She had this magnet up for multiple years,” Bruckner stated. “I feel like you as the board making that decision of the interpretation of that policy — and what does and doesn’t quantify as political in this situation —  has had a snowball effect. This decision is now affecting everything else and I’ll tell you, it’s affecting our morale at school. It’s making people who’ve been here for forever question if this is where they still want to be and that makes me really sad.”

Bruckner shared with the board that she wants Wessington Springs School District “to be the place people want to come.” 

"I’m just asking the board to make this decision based on what’s in the best interest of our students,” said Bruckner in closing. “I feel like this magnet was not political until it was asked to be taken down.”

School response 

When asked to comment about the aforementioned concerns voiced by community members and educators during public forum, school superintendent Dr. Michael Ormsmith responded to an email from the True Dakotan as “not able to comment on your questions due to active personnel matters.” 

“We were glad to see a group of people there to show support and concern.  It shows that they have the well-being of every student in mind as the board does,” stated Wessington Springs Board of Education  Chairman Todd Grohs. “The board has grievance policies for these matters and is currently working through that process. These things take time so we ask everyone to be patient and let this process work.  If you have further concerns feel free to send a letter or contact the superintendent.”

Ormsmith reiterated that sentiment. “If the public has additional comments for the board they can email me, drop off a letter in the business office, or send a letter in the mail to my office.  We will provide copies of anything we receive to all board members.” 

In an earlier email sent on January 31, 2022, the True Dakotan also requested clarification on several school district policies posted on the school website including: Chain of Communications Guideline, Staff Complaints and Grievances, Suspension and Dismissal of Professional Staff Members and Staff Ethics. 

Ormsmith replied to the email with the following statement, "Thank you for sending the questions. However, I am still not able to comment on your questions due to active personnel matters.  It is important that confidentiality is maintained throughout the process for the affected staff members.”