Central Bucks Wrestles With Proposed Book Policy, Pride Flag

DOYLESTOWN, PA – For two hours on Tuesday night, Central Bucks School District students and parents spoke out on two controversial topics – a decision to remove pride flags from the classroom and a proposed policy that would change the process in which books are approved for the district’s libraries.

Many of the comments at the monthly school board meeting were in reaction to Superintendent Abe Lucabaugh’s decision last month to remove pride flags from classrooms.

“While we can agree to disagree on this one, the reason for the decision is that the flags, once thought to be a statement of support, are now a flashpoint for controversy and divisiveness in our school buildings,” he said last month. “These flags now represent more than a symbol of a safe space for our LGBTQAI+ students; instead, they have become a symbol of taking sides,'" he said.

"These flags have taken on a contentiousness that is pulling our focus away from the support and belonging our students deserve and they are dividing our community at a time that calls for healing."

The superintendent’s sentiments were not shared by many of the residents and students who spoke at the school board meeting. Many blasted the decision as transphobic, homophobic and anti-LGBTQAI+.

“When you ban pride flags it is taking a side. It is taking a side against our vulnerable, marginalized students and that is not a side the board should ever take. We need to support all of our students,” said a CB South graduate.

“Banning pride flags is wrong, short-sighted and it goes against what the bulk of psychological research tells us,”said Doylestown psychologist Dr. Audrey Ervin, who works with LGBTQAI+ youth and adults. “Representation and safe spaces are critical to the mental health of our sexual and minority member youth.

“Visual symbols such as the pride flag normalize various identities sending clear messages of affirmation and safety and assist folks to connect with allies,” she continued. “These spaces were created to combat the hostile, homophobic and transphobic sentiments that plague our society.
Actions matter not empty words of support. Removing pride flags sends a message to youth who are already at high risk of substance abuse, depression and anxiety that you are not welcome.”

“Pride flags make me feel safe,” added Skylar Peslo. “In this world I feel unsafe because of the amount of physical and verbal attacks that people like me get. That pride flag shows that nobody can hurt me because I know that teacher will stop it because they support me … Don’t take my
safety.”

“The idea of banning pride flags is a return to neutral and not an active attack against these students is ridiculous,” said Briana Finnegan, a 2006 graduate of CB East. “There are trans adults in your community. There are queer people in your community. We see what you’re doing and we are not afraid of you.”

Others at the meeting were there to speak out against the board’s proposed library book policy.

Brett Freeman from Buckingham Township spoke against the proposed policy change, calling it problematic “due to inconsistencies and vague language written in a manner that will yield discriminatory and limiting outcomes.

“When you hinder access and replace it with what amounts to censorship, this is not an equitable solution for your marginalized students,” he said. “The efforts here, under the guise of clarifying policy, have focused on implementing restrictions rather than fostering an environment of choice and tolerance, which is what our libraries are supposed to provide.”

Following public comment, the board voted 6 to 3 to approve the first read of the new book policy, which defines the process of adding books to the library. It puts the decision making in the hands of the administration, not the board on what material is appropriate to bring into the school.

Several board members had asked that the policy be sent back to committee for further review. That motion failed.

Later in the meeting, on the topic of pride flags, board member Dr. Mariam Mahmud motioned to place a motion on the agenda to return pride flags to the classroom. That motion also failed to receive enough votes to move forward.

Board President Dana Hunter said the issue regarding flags “is a much bigger conversation than pride flags. The board should have a conversation in policy about flags in general.”

The superintendent said he would be open to a much larger conversation as long as it’s respectful.

“This community at some point in the very near future has to rally and we have to start being open to alternate viewpoints and we have to be listeners before we are speakers,” said Lucabaugh.

“My intentions and my statements at the last meeting was a plea for adults to take up arms and realize kids are hurting. And that we need to embrace them,” he said. “But I believe the best way to embrace this problem is to embrace our kids in very tangible ways - to say to them at the start of every class, at the start of every year you deserve to be respected, you deserve to be loved, cared for, you need to feel heard, you deserve to be seen.

“It’s the compassion, it’s the empathy, it’s the connections to human beings that make a difference,” said Lucabaugh. “I understand the argument of a flag being up and it makes me feel seen and belong. I am aware of the merit of that and I’d be open to talking about that. But what I will not accept is complacency or idling standing by and watching things happen that should not happen.

“No flag is going to step up for injustice, but a caring human being will,” he said. “A caring human being is the conduit to the change that we desperately need. Did I articulate myself as well as I could have? Probably not because here we are. But I spoke from a foundation of
caring and concern.”