Staff Rebuke School Board Over Pride Flag Fallout At Sonoma Valley High

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — The removal of a Pride flag from Sonoma Valley High School has spurred growing fallout, involving teachers, parents, community groups, and the school board, as staff warn trustees against unsettling a campus they say has only recently stabilized.

The Pride flag, first raised at Sonoma Valley High School in 2019, was removed earlier this month at the direction of school board President David Bell. This triggered criticism from those who said the move conflicted with the district’s diversity initiatives and negatively impacted LGBTQ students.

A Jan. 22 letter from Sonoma Valley High School staff expressed concern not just about the flag’s removal, but also about reports that Bell tried to shift responsibility to Principal Molly Kiss, calling this "unacceptable, unprofessional, and damaging to trust."

Staff warned the board that they would hold trustees accountable for any governance that exceeds the board’s mandate and threatens school leadership stability.

Flag supporters said the removal undermined diversity efforts and harmed LGBTQ students.
While the flag was scheduled to be flying again by Tuesday, staff said in the letter that they are deeply troubled not only by the removal, but also by reports from community members that Bell tried to shift responsibility for taking down the flag onto Principal Molly Kiss.

They called the blaming Kiss "unacceptable, unprofessional, and damaging to trust."
Staff warned they would hold the school board accountable for continued interference outside of policy that could disrupt the leadership team.

"We will not accept a return to instability from avoidable governance failures," the letter stated.
The letter was attributed to the undersigned staff of Sonoma Valley High School.
Bell said he supports the flag but plans to raise a broader discussion of campus flags with the school board in March.

Ahead of the March 12 school board meeting, a Wake Up Sonoma member said the group will address the issue at today's City Council meeting and at the Feb. 12 School Board meeting.

A special meeting of the school board is also scheduled for Tuesday.

READ MORE: Community Outcry After Pride Flag Removed At Sonoma Valley School