State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters said the Oklahoma Department of Education is investigating Edmond Public School's flag protocols on Thursday one month after a student was halted from flying the American flag from the bed of his truck .
During the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Walters said his office has had a lot of correspondence with Edmond parents, adding that students shouldn't be targeted for "promoting the American flag."
The superintendent issued “guidelines on patriotic displays” to Oklahoma school districts in August after controversy sparked surrounding the Edmond student, though it's questionable if Walters has the unilateral authority to force districts to comply with the guidelines
The guidelines state that districts must develop a district policy “that ensures the U.S. flag … can be flown and displayed on all school campuses without infringement,” must lead students in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week and must submit a report to the Oklahoma State Department of Education detailing their policies about flag display and the Pledge of Allegiance.
On Thursday, Walters said he's unsure if Edmond's current practice on flags meets the state Education Department's guidelines. He told the board he doesn't know of any other school district that's had this issue.
"What we're going to continue to do is ask questions of Edmond Public Schools to tell us what their policy is, how their actions aligned with that policy and how that policy aligns with our guidance," Walters said. "I want the parents that have reached out to know that we will ensure that students' individual rights are protected and that we will be promoting patriotism."
Edmond Public Schools said they haven't received any communication from the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding its new guidelines, a district spokesperson said in a statement to The Oklahoman on Thursday. The district learned of the directive through a news release last month and has not received any additional information, though the spokesperson added that its current practice is largely in line with Walters' guidelines.
"As we have communicated, while the district does not currently have a policy regarding flags, it is important to note that our current practice is largely in line with these new guidelines," the spokesperson said. "The district has begun working on language that can accomplish both safety and respect for the flag. That process includes advice from organizations with a long, existing history of honoring the flag."
When controversy struck Edmond Public Schools last month, the district heard opinions on the issue from people inside and outside of the community, the spokesperson said. In the past several weeks, the district hasn't heard complaints or otherwise from Edmond families regarding its practice on flags despite Walters' remarks that his office has been in communication with parents.
"Again, Edmond Public Schools is proudly patriotic. We fly the American flag in front of each of our schools properly during each school day," the spokesperson said. "There are American flags in each of our classrooms. Our students and staff members recite the Pledge every day. One of our strongest and proudest traditions is our JROTC program at Edmond North High School and we take great pride when our cadets present the colors at many of our events."
Complaint from Edmond North student leads to debate over flag display
Issues concerning flag display initially were raised in August by an Edmond North High School student, who told Oklahoma City television station KOCO that school officials would not allow him, or others, to display the U.S. flag on their vehicles while on school property.
The student also posted on social media, drawing the attention of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, who said in a video posted on X that, “No school in Oklahoma should tell students they can’t wave an American flag.”
Edmond Superintendent Angela Grunewald later sent a letter to Edmond district parents, explaining the rationale used in developing the district’s current policy, but didn't pledge to change the district's stance regarding the display of flags.
The district’s current flag display policy was developed following a 2017 incident at a district football game, Grunewald said during the district's September board meeting. She said during the game, students displayed the flag inappropriately and after the game, flags were “strewn across the stadium.”
At that meeting, only two people signed up to speak about the flag issue during the public comment portion of the meeting, which immediately followed Grunewald’s remarks.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters said Education Department is investigating Edmond Public Schools' flag policy
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